The news that shocked the sports world recently was the blockbuster NBA trade that sent Dallas Mavericks generational superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Immediately social media was in flames, with everyone firing off their instant reactions to the trade.
It's rare air to see two superstars of this level traded at any point, let alone midseason. Major League Baseball's July trade deadline is always an active and must-watch time of year. However, nothing at any previous trade deadline could touch what the sports world witnessed hours earlier. Some of baseball accounts on Twitter began asking for hypothetical MLB trade equivalents, and fans wasted no time throwing out some blockbuster's of their own.
One of the most popular blockbuster trade suggestions involved one of Atlanta's very own franchise icons. The suggestion made was a one-for-one swap of former MVP's: Ronald Acuna Jr. for Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper.
Acuna Jr. traded for Bryce Harper
— ImmaculateWinning (@basedgodzilla) February 2, 2025
Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. compared to Luka Doncic after bizarre NBA trade
An instant reaction of that suggested trade would likely have Braves fans as upset as Dallas Mavericks fans were shortly ago. However, the comparison is a fair one when assessing the two trades. Like the Luka and Anthony Davis swap, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Bryce Harper share a similar age gap.
Acuna is the young former MVP who is looked at by many as a generational talent in the sport. Generational talent is synonmis with one Luka Doncic, and many view him as a future multiple time MVP winner.
Meanwhile Bryce Harper has long been one of the top players in the sport, and like Anthony Davis, was once a slam dunk number one overall pick in the draft. However, as great of players as Harper and Davis are, trading away your younger, top jersey selling franchise superstar is insane logic. That's why most fans instant reactions were thinking NBA insider Shams was getting hacked on socials. That's why Braves fans would be in angry mob form were Anthopoulos to strike a deal that sent Acuna packing.
Yes, all four players have struggled with injuries at some point in their careers, but injuries aside the willingness to shorten your championship window for years maybe decades to come is a wild strategy. Shortly after the pitchforks came out in Dallas, the Mavs general manager Nico Harrison has described trading franchise star Luka Doncic as a "win now move." Certainly a bold take to sell to your fans.
Were Alex Anthopoulos to trade Ronald Acuna Jr. in the midst of his prime, I'm not sure there is any world he could spin that as a "win now" move. Thankfully, Anthopoulos has a long track record as being one of the top GM's in the sport, so orchestrating a trade that sounds laughable in your company fantasy sports league is highly out of character for him. And for that reason it's probably a safe bet to assume Ronald Acuna Jr. and Bryce Harper will both remain with their respective squads for quiet awhile longer.