The 2025 NBA trade deadline has got to be one of the wildest in league history. It's rare to see two teams trade their superstars in the middle of the season. But that's what happened when the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers swapped Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.
It wasn't a straight barter, of course. Both organizations also reportedly sent out other pieces, with the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick probably the most valuable outside of Doncic and Davis. Details haven't been published yet, although some reports say that the Utah Jazz will serve as a facilitator in the deal.
It's unclear if the Charlotte Hornets will also be involved in the trade. Even if they can't crash the party, they still stand to benefit from the move.
Mavs owe a 2027 first-round draft pick to Hornets
Last year, the Hornets were involved in a few midseason trades, including a deal with Dallas that had P.J. Washington joining Doncic and helping the Texas-based crew make a run to the Finals. In return, Buzz City received a package of Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and, probably most importantly now, a top-2 protected first-round selection in 2027.
When "Luka Magic" was still running the show, that pick wasn't as highly valued since he had been expected to keep the Mavs in contention year after year. The summer of 2027 also marked the time when he had a player option, giving him the opportunity to opt out and sign another lucrative extension.
Doncic is gone, and even though there is still a good chance that Davis can help Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson continue battling for a championship.
Keep in mind, though, that the big man, who is turning 32 in March, has yet to prove that he isn't injury-prone anymore. An extended time wearing street clothes could have Dallas reeling in the standings without a certain Slovenian phenom to save the day for the squad.
In addition, Irving would be 35 by the time the Mavs' pick presumably conveys to Charlotte. And we don't even have to discuss Thompson, whose inconsistency this season has had Josh Green, the piece the Hornets got from the former Golden State Warriors star's move to Dallas, sometimes holding better value.
So, the odds of Charlotte acquiring a lottery pick in 2027 have become much higher. The problem, though, is that if the Mavs, by any chance, turn into cellar-dwellers in the standings and get either the No. 1 or 2 picks that year, the Hornets would have no choice but to yield the asset.