The Blockbuster Trade That Rocked Major League Pickleball

The greatest male pickleball player of all time just got traded in a move that’s set to completely upend the entire season of Major League Pickleball. Today, Ben Johns was traded from the Carolina Hogs to the LA Mad Drops. This trade is so massive that it makes the entire first half of the season irrelevant.

In a three-team trade, Ben Johns goes to LA, Etta Tuionetoa goes to the Utah Black Diamonds, and a few bench players were traded around for cash. While the league doesn't publicize exact figures, it's estimated that $200,000 per player was potentially transacted, meaning the Hogs likely pulled in $400,000 today.

This is quite the turn of events for the Mad Drops who had Quang Duong’s contract terminated just a week ago. Now, the Mad Drops consist of Ben Johns, Hunter Johnson, Catherine Parentau, and Jade Kawamoto—a trade surrounded by fishy circumstances at the deadline.

MLP has always been about parity which is why we’ve loved it. This year was the first where a huge gap emerged between the top and bottom, but this trade essentially creates MLP’s first-ever super-team. Consider them in the playoffs: a top 3 women’s doubles team with Catherine and Jade, and Ben Johns and Hunter Johnson as a top 3 men’s doubles team. Then there’s Ben and Catherine, arguably the best team on paper. But wait, Hunter and Jade also have a 70% win rate. In close matchups, the dreambreaker lineup features Hunter Johnson as the top singles player instead of Ben. Beating them twice in the playoffs will be a tall order.

Is this good or bad for the league? It's complicated. It's good that Ben is off the Hogs, who didn’t seem interested in winning and would have spent $400,000 to keep him next year. The Hogs locked up Ben but didn’t invest in a supporting cast.

Part of me wants and does hate this team, yet I like the idea of a super team in MLP. This could generate hype akin to basketball’s super teams—think Jordan’s dream team, Lebron’s Heat, the 80s Lakers, Curry’s Warriors. But chemistry issues could arise. Hunter Johnson, whose aggressive play style might clash with Ben’s, will face pressure. It’s a complex team dynamic, but Hunter and Jade had some success in their current pairings.

Hunter and Jade might grapple with new expectations, but Ben and Catherine are seasoned. Despite being in 6th place with only six matches left, the Mad Drops face a tough but possible path to the title. The road could feature brutal matchups against the 5s, Shock, and Flash. Even super teams struggle through such paths.

Looking at the future, this super team may not last. MLP rules mean the Mad Drops must drop two players next year, likely Hunter and Jade. It will cost them a steep $420,000 to keep Ben and $220,000 for Catherine. Building around them with strong players could total $200,000–$300,000 more, making it unlikely for the team to stay intact by 2026.

Finally, the trade deadline was controversially moved. Initially set for Wednesday the 16th, it was extended to Monday the 21st. Then, Ben Johns’ trade—the biggest in pickleball history—was announced, involving big names like Connor Pardoe and Tom Dundon. The circumstances seem questionable, although the trade is a net positive for Major League Pickleball.

The season’s remainder promises madness. Next, I'll cover everything else that went down at this week’s MLP in St. Louis, where the Sliders just ended the Flash’s massive win streak.