Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis ‘excited’ after Kings trade

Lost in the chaos of the James Harden-Darius Garland trade is the fact that it is Cleveland Cavaliers‘ The latest official plugins are ready to go. Both Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis are set to make their Cavs debuts against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday.

After hearing Cleveland’s thoughts on the deal, the two spoke after the team’s first practice.

“I think it’s great,” Schroder told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “First practice. A lot of new things. But we’re really excited, Keon and I, to be with a team that competes day in and day out every night, goes out and competes at the highest level to win. We’re just trying to bring that energy as well.”

“Since it happened, I’ve watched the last two games,” added Ellis, who admittedly isn’t too familiar with the Cavs. “I mean, I’m just excited to be on a winning team, come in and contribute. I know they’re trying to win every night, and I think I can help (with) the things that I do. I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Ellis believes his game is “winning basketball,” doing whatever it takes to get the team in that position night after night. That Cleveland has championship aspirations of its own means a lot to him. There haven’t been any advanced discussions about his role or anything since everyone is still in the introductory stages. Schröder, however, has seen his game up close and personal this season.

“The defensive activity is one of the best in the league,” Schroder said. “I think he’s really good, he’s getting a lot of deflections, he’s in the right spots. Offensively, his shooting. But his ability on the offensive end, putting him on the floor is really underrated. But I think defensively, shooting threes, playing fast, I think Cavs fans can look forward to seeing that.”

“Every night I do my best, trying to do my job to the best of my ability,” Ellis said. “Being a great teammate. Just trying to win.”

Schroeder’s style reflects that mentality. It is also known to get under the skin of opponents.

“I was 13 years in this league as a 6-1, 180 (pound) running back,” Schroder said. “You need a competitive edge to be in the league that long, I believe. I’ve been doing that my whole career. When I was young, I always wanted to compete. I always wanted to win. I think this is a good fit for this team.”

“Getting (Jaylon) Tyson, Donovan Mitchell, Eve (Mobley) and (Jarrett) Allen to … not talk shit, but to be competitive and make sure we go out there and go after it. I think the dog mentality is, if we’ve got that, we’ll go far.”

Humble and easy-going outside the gym, Schroder loves his family above all else. But once he puts on the jersey, it’s game time.

“I don’t want to have friends on the field,” Schroder said. “Once it gets between those lines, you just want to win. Whatever it takes to win, I’m going to do it. I bring that energy, I bring that competitive nature. I’m going to give 110 percent every game. I always treat it like it’s my last game, go out there and try to get the most important thing.”

It’s hard to dispute Schröder’s longevity, and his latest success at the 2025 FIFA World Cup is further proof. what can he do on the high stage. Schroder was named EuroBasket MVP after leading Germany to its first championship since 1993, dominating the second half in an 88-83 victory over Turkey.

“That’s what I like to do in big games,” Schroder said. “I love being in those games, making sure you put your teammates in the right places and embrace the moment. That’s what we work for every day in the gym, to be in those moments, and I’m looking forward to being on the big stage with this team.”

He has also been to the NBA playoffs eight different times, including the Eastern Conference Finals as a second-year player against Cleveland and in 2022-23 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Cleveland’s expectations are even higher.

“It’s always great to have an organization that wants to play for something,” Schroder said. “You want to get as many wins as possible, so I want to get into that. Knowing these guys, playing with them a week ago, they’re going after it. I want to be able to put a little bit into something big.”

Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis’ Trade Deadline Experience

Schroder was in Washington the day before the Sacramento Kings played the Washington Wizards. Kings assistant general manager BJ Armstrong informed him of the trade over the phone.

“It’s a job and I’m excited to be here now,” Schroeder said. “The season wasn’t going very well for the Sacramento Kings, and the situation wasn’t (sustainable) for me either. So I saw something coming.”

“I wasn’t too worried about the rumors or anything,” Ellis added. “But when it happened, my phone literally (exploded); I think I had about 140 missed calls. Every time I talked to someone, someone else called. Everyone’s texting me; I’m trying to get back to the important people first. It’s been a lot, but it’s all good.

In his formative years with the Atlanta Hawks, Schroder became close with Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson. He believes Ellis will like it; Mark Bartelstein and Andy Schiffman, his agents at Priority Sports, have a long-standing relationship with the Cleveland man. They told the 26-year-old the same thing his teammate told him.

In addition to Ellis and Atkinson, Schroder only has two connections on the team at this point. Priority also represents Larry Nance Jr., as well as Thomas Bryant, with whom the German veteran played in Los Angeles in the second matchup with the Lakers in the aforementioned 2022-23 campaign.

Ellis is very fond of Cavs assistant Javad Williams from the two seasons he spent as the Kings’ player development coach. He’s also happy to be reunited with Sam Merrill, his training camp teammate as a Kings rookie three and a half years ago.

Eager to develop relationship with Cavs

Plus, they’re both looking forward to building a relationship, on and off the court, from top to bottom.

“I mean, it’s going to take a couple of weeks,” Schroder said. “It depends on how close we are, how we come together, what the chemistry is in the team. I think that’s the most important thing. The first day was already great. I’ve done it before, and I think this group is good enough, as a character, to bring me and Keon great, and then we’ll just compete at the highest level.”

“I’m totally meeting everybody as I go along,” Ellis added. “I’m excited to meet everybody. I’m taking things day by day. I know I’m probably going to have to get everybody’s names multiple times, get all the situations and everything. But I’m really excited to play.”

From the outside looking in, they’re both fans of what they’ve seen. Donovan Mitchell is certainly in that bucket.

“Great player,” Ellis said. “I’m definitely glad I don’t have to guard him anymore. That’s going to be nice, you get to see him play every night and even everybody else.”

“I’m excited to play with the guys here,” Schroder added. “They’re special, and I think we just want to come in and get involved.”

This isn’t the first time Schroder has been busted; it’s the eighth time he’s been moved, and the Cavs will be the 11th team he’s played for. In contrast, Ellis is learning all of this as a rookie at the trade deadline.

“I’m just trying to take him under my wing and try to help him,” Schroder said. “It’s easy for me. At the end of the day, you go out there to compete, to win. Whatever you have to do to figure it out, I’m going to do it. Keon’s going to do the same thing. Try to be great.”

“A really great team,” Ellis added. “They have great pieces. I think we can accomplish those goals that I know they’ve set. We’re definitely excited about it.”