The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to trade forward P.J. Washington to the Dallas Mavericks for forward Grant Williams, guard Seth Curry, and a lightly-protected 2027 first-round pick, according to multiple reports.
Washington joins revamped Mavs frontcourt
Washington, 23, is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season, shooting 44.6% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range. He is in his third season in the NBA, after being drafted by the Hornets with the 12th overall pick in 2021.
The Mavericks are hoping that Washington can provide some scoring and rebounding in the paint, as well as some defense and versatility. He will join a revamped Mavs frontcourt that also added center Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards in another trade on Thursday.
The Mavs are currently eighth in the Western Conference standings, with a 28-23 record. They are two games behind the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans, who are tied for fifth and sixth, respectively.
Hornets continue to rebuild with young assets
The Hornets, on the other hand, are in full rebuilding mode, as they have traded away several veterans this season. They previously dealt guard Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat and forward Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder, acquiring young players and draft picks in return.
Williams, 24, was signed by the Mavs as a free agent last summer, after spending his first two seasons with the Boston Celtics. He is averaging 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season, shooting 45.7% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc.
Curry, 31, is a familiar face for the Hornets, as he is the son of former Hornets star Dell Curry and the brother of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. He is averaging 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game this season, shooting 36.2% from three-point range. He previously played for the Mavs in 2016-17 and 2019-20, before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and then back to the Mavs this season.
The Hornets will also receive a first-round pick from the Mavs in 2027, which is top-two protected, meaning that the Mavs will keep the pick if it lands in the top two spots of the draft lottery.
The Hornets are currently last in the Eastern Conference standings, with a 10-40 record. They have the second-worst record in the NBA, behind only the Detroit Pistons.
