OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kyle Korver rode the bus from the team hotel Wednesday night and hoisted shots pregame -- his usual routine on the road.

Then he was grabbed off the court and received the news that he had been traded to the Utah Jazz.

Tristan Thompson didn't get to say goodbye. Neither did Larry Nance Jr. Head coach Larry Drew couldn't comment at all during his pregame media session because the trade hadn't yet been finalized. Channing Frye only got to say a few brief words to Korver because he saw him after the news. It all happened so quick. That's life in the NBA.

"I think veteran players that have been in this league, they understand the nature of this business and they know that anybody can be traded at any given time," Drew said. "I think it's young guys who've never been through this, I think they're the ones who kinda are looking around. But no, veteran guys have experienced it.

"Veteran guys have been in situations, they understand the nature of this business, how it works. I don't think I have to massage anything. We're going to try to stay the course as much as we can and just get ready for every game we have to play and not worry about anything else."

For the holdovers, this is just a minor blip. They've been in much more chaotic situations. Many have even been in Korver's shoes. Nance, Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood all arrived in a midseason trade. Their life, their future changed with one phone call.

Wednesday was a bit tougher because it happened less than two hours before tipoff and Korver was coming off his best game of the season. He was again going to be a key piece of the team's bench, the floor spacer to give the Cavs a catch-and-shoot outlet in hopes of combating the way Oklahoma City defends pick and rolls.

"It definitely sucks a lot of energy out of there because you're like, 'damn, we just traded Kyle,'" Tristan Thompson said. "Definitely tough. Been there before. Didn't that happen in Atlanta when we traded f------ everybody?"

The Cavs went on to win that night. But as Thompson said that's a lot different than trying to beat the Thunder on their own home floor with nine available players.

No Korver. George Hill wasn't ready because of his shoulder injury. David Nwaba was out because of a sprained knee. Sam Dekker is getting closer, but felt some discomfort after playing 4-on-4 Tuesday afternoon. Kevin Love was out of his boot and in the building, but he's probably more than a month away. By the second half, the short-handed Cavs were gassed, losing 100-83. They fought hard, but didn't have enough.

While Wednesday's trade was necessary -- a win for Korver and the organization -- it certainly impacted Cleveland's chances of beating Oklahoma City. The emotions of that reality can sometimes be difficult.

What does it mean when long-term goals are placed in front of short term? How were the Cavs really supposed to hang with a playoff team on a night they played just eight guys? What's it say about the desire to win in that situation? Those are all logical and fair questions.

Thompson, one of the team leaders, said he didn't feel it necessary to send a message about staying professional and keeping focus with the possibility of more moves on the horizon.

"At the end of the day it's a business and anyone can get moved," he said. "If the trade is right and it adds up then someone can get moved unless you have a no-trade clause. So the only two guys that are safe in the NBA are Bron and Steph Curry. Everyone else, you can be moved. All you can do is control what you can control. Come in, play hard every day, do your job and don't get in trouble."

Rebuilds aren't easy. It's tough to have the same level of commitment knowing that winning is unlikely. Thompson knows that. He's the only player that lived through a post-LeBron era before this season. Back then, he relied on veterans, specifically Antawn Jamison. As Drew told cleveland.com recently, this current situation in Cleveland isn't for everyone.

"It's extremely tough. It's kind of draining. It takes the focus away from the game as well," Hood admitted. "Kyle is going to a great place. I played there and he played there as well. Just to see that before a game, kind of unexpected, it's kind of mind-boggling. But we went out there and tried to compete as hard as we could."

That's all the Cavs can do the rest of the way. That's their job as professionals. Just as it's the front office's job to do what's best for the organization. When a great offer is on the table, a general manager has to pounce quickly -- even if that means trading the best 3-point shooter that close to gametime.

For rookie Collin Sexton, he's been able to see new things, to learn plenty already. Wednesday night was a first-hand glimpse at the business side. He better get used to it.