Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Gordon Hayward, F/C P.J. Washington

Charlotte Hornets Receive: G/F Ben Simmons

Here, we’ve got Ben Simmons paired with another dynamic playmaker in LaMelo Ball by sending him to the Charlotte Hornets.

Some will protest this trade. For starters, passing is an odd skill to double down on. Conventional wisdom dictates that you surround elite playmakers with shooting and defense.

To that, we say: away with conventional wisdom. Ball and Simmons would be the best transition duo in the NBA. Add Miles Bridges to that attack, and the Hornets can run-and-gun half of the league’s teams out of the gym on a nightly basis. If nothing else, it’ll be a highly entertaining brand of basketball.

The other reason some Hornets fans won’t like this deal is the inclusion of P.J. Washington. The utility combo forward is a valuable rotation player. He’s a versatile defender who can space the floor from all three frontcourt positions. He’d be of great use to the Nets, as would Hayward.

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This deal lowers the Hornets’ floor. It also raises their ceiling. If they’re feeling dangerous this summer, they’ll take that trade-off.