The blockbuster deal between the Mavericks and Lakers shook up the sports world beyond the NBA. Watching Dallas trade star Luka Doncic for Los Angeles enforcer Anthony Davis was like a sign of the end of times for Adam Schefter, who tried to make sense of it with a very NFL-style comparison.
On Saturday night, the Lakers and Mavericks signed a deal that sent Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles, while Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick had to pack their bags for Dallas.
Most analysts believe the Lakers won in the long run with Doncic, a 25-year-old with more than half his career ahead of him. The Mavericks didn’t fare so well; Davis is a star right now, but he’s no LeBron James and at 31, he’s very close to beginning his decline.
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Schefter, however, doesn’t see it that way. The ESPN NFL insider made a risky comparison that didn’t go down well with fans.
Schefter’s controversial comparison
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Schefter ventured to say, “An NFL equivalent: the Ravens trading Lamar Jackson+ to the Bengals in exchange for Joe Burrow+ – in the middle of the season.”
Jackson is in his prime. Although he was eliminated in the NFL Divisional Round, the Baltimore quarterback is just 28 years old and coming off the best season of his career. Burrow is the same age as Lamar and also just put up the best numbers of his career, despite failing to get Cincinnati into the playoffs.
Doncic is yet to hit his prime, despite reports of his lack of fitness and rumors surrounding his lack of discipline. Davis, on the other hand, is in his prime and if the Mavericks want to cash in on their investment, they’ll have to do so soon. That’s why fans lashed out at Schefter.
Fans vs. Adam Schefter
The analyst’s tweet sparked an immediate controversy. “This isn’t even close. It’s like the Ravens trading Lamar for Dak Prescott,” one fan claimed, and another agreed, saying, “Maybe Lamar or Burrow for Dak Prescott or Matt Stafford.”
Another went further, saying, “Burrow and Jackson are both elite. Luka is elite and Davis is not elite, they’re not the same,” and one more noted, “It would be like the Ravens trading Lamar to the Jets for Aaron Rodgers.”
Schefter says it was a win-win for the Lakers and Mavericks, but fans and other analysts believe Los Angeles got the better end of the deal. Only time will tell who is right.
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