Anthony Davis wasn’t the one star participant in Los Angeles to get blindsided by his group this week.
Two days after the Los Angeles Lakers traded 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, All-Professional huge receiver Cooper Kupp introduced on X that the Los Angeles Rams had been “looking for a commerce instantly” for the Tremendous Bowl LVI MVP.
Kupp wrote, “I do not agree with the choice,” which was presumably made for the Rams to save $20M on subsequent 12 months’s wage if his commerce is designated post-June 1. He had spent his whole profession with the Rams after being chosen within the third spherical in 2017 out of Japanese Washington. Kupp received the receiving Triple Crown in 2021, main the NFL in yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns, earlier than setting a playoff document with 33 receptions in 4 playoff video games because the Rams received all of it three years in the past.
Davis helped the Lakers to a title in his first season, 2019-20. The Lakers made the convention finals in 2023, and Davis made one All-NBA first group and two All-Defensive first groups in his five-plus seasons.
The frequent thread is that each gamers did not request and even anticipate a commerce. Davis signed an extension to stick with the Lakers by means of 2028 in the summertime of 2023. Kupp signed an extension to stick with the Rams by means of 2026 again in 2022. Now he’ll be taking part in out that contract elsewhere.
The conditions present that there is a double commonplace about group loyalty in skilled sports activities. Davis was demonized for requesting a commerce to the Lakers from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019, however the Lakers will not face the identical criticism for buying and selling him away. Kupp has performed by means of a number of accidents and dedicated to his group long-term, solely to be taught he was expendable.
Each the Lakers and Rams might have sturdy causes for his or her commerce. For the Lakers, it was the possibility to amass Luka Doncic. For the Rams, it was the emergence of younger receivers Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. However for 2 stars who gave lots to Los Angeles, it is a tough strategy to depart.
