If your intended itinerary is LFT-DFW-NYC, that would cost 17,500 Avios (or 12,500 MR points with the current 40% bonus). But 12,500 MR points can also be converted to 12,500 Etihad Guest points, which is sufficient for LFT-DFW-NYC one way on AA.

If you were looking at roundtrip award travel between LFT and NYC on AA, I think that your best deal would be to convert your MR points to Iberia Plus Avios, which also has a 40% transfer bonus currently. The LFT-DFW-NYC-DFW-LFT roundtrip on AA would cost just 23,000 Iberia Plus Avios, or just 16,500 MR points with the 40% bonus. (Note, however, that Iberia Plus redemptions on AA are non-refundable/non-changeable, and one-ways are not permitted.)