The Charlotte Hornets have traded PJ Washington and two second-round picks to the Dallas Mavericks for Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a top-two protected 2027 first-round draft pick, first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Washington lands back in his hometown of Dallas after spending the first four-and-a-half seasons of his career with Charlotte. Selected 12th in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Kentucky product holds career averages of 13 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 block in 304 appearances (236 starts) with the Hornets. Washington signed a three-year, $46.5M contract in restricted free agency last summer.

Grant Williams, who the Hornets also pursued in restricted free agency, is in the first season of a four-year, $53.3M contract signed with the Mavericks last summer. Williams is a Charlotte native and Providence Day School alum that has posted 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds across his career with Dallas and the Boston Celtics.

The Hornets also land Curry along with Williams. Obviously, the son of Dell Curry playing for the same team as his father did, while his father is currently the team’s color broadcaster, is very cool. The 11-year pro also provides a veteran presence in the locker room, reliable floor spacing and secondary playmaking. The youngest Curry averages 10.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2 assists per game in his career, shooting 43.2% on 1,973 total 3-point attempts.

The top-two protected 2027 first-rounder is by far the best asset Charlotte receives in this deal. The contracts of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving both expire by then, and as long as Dallas doesn’t fully bottom out, the Hornets are almost certainly going to receive this pick in 2027. Down the line, this could turn into a.) another valuable trade chip, or b.) a quality draft selection when the team is (hopefully) too good to be making their own picks at the top of the draft.

The Hornets roster now stands at 19 players, four over the 15-man roster limit. Kyle Lowry is a lock to be bought out/traded, while the other three candidates to be waived/traded are James Bouknight, JT Thor, Ish Smith and Frank Ntilikina. There’s a chance Curry could be bought out, too, but I’d imagine he’s not too upset to join the franchise where his father built a legacy.