DeMar DeRozan Teams Up With LaMelo Ball in $51M Mock Trade

The Charlotte Hornets, desperate to shake their label as a fringe Eastern Conference team, might have just found their wildcard—at least in theory. A newly floated mock trade has them linked with veteran star DeMar DeRozan, a player whose mid-range mastery and leadership could help stabilize a team that has struggled to find its identity. But is this the kind of move that propels them forward—or ties them up for the wrong reasons?

This speculative deal isn’t just about one player. It’s a $51 million reshuffle, one that would also see rookie guard Devin Carter join Charlotte while the Sacramento Kings pick up Grant Williams and Tre Mann in return. Both Williams ($27M) and Mann ($24M) have struggled to carve out consistent roles in their current stops, but the structure of their deals means any transaction would have to wait until January.

“An unlikely landing spot for DeMar DeRozan if things go well for the Charlotte Hornets,” Allen Stiles said in the mock trade breakdown. “The Hornets would receive DeRozan and Devin Carter. The Kings would receive Grant Williams and Tre Mann. That is the deal.” For Charlotte, this means waiting to see if their early-season trajectory justifies pulling the trigger: whether LaMelo Ball can stay healthy, whether Brandon Miller’s growth continues, and if Miles Bridges’ on-court value outweighs the off-court noise.

(Developing story …)

The post DeMar DeRozan Teams Up With LaMelo Ball in $51M Mock Trade appeared first on EssentiallySports.