Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis and Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball are at the center of recent trade speculation. The Mavericks’ disastrous start and Ball’s reported dissatisfaction with the Hornets have spiked rumors involving both. Already, mock trades with Davis and Ball as centerpieces are swirling.Bleacher Report introduced a scenario where Davis and Ball would swap places. In the mock trade, the Hornets would send the electric point guard, Grant Williams, Liam McNeeley and two first-round picks (2028 and 2030) for AD.LaMelo Ball’s name entered the rumor mill when NBA analyst Kelly Ilko reported on Thursday a potential Ball-Hornets split. Hornets coach Charles Lee benched the former All-Star in the remaining 4:32 in their 127-118 loss to the 2-13 Indiana Pacers.According to Ilko, the Hornets are putting a premium on “ball and player movement,” a deviation from the Ball-centric offense of past years. Ilko added that the more deliberate style has allowed other players such as Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel to step up.Ball called Ilko a clown for that reporting, though.LaMelo Ball in Dallas would allow Cooper Flagg to return to his normal small forward spot. A backcourt of Ball and Kyrie Irving would also make the Mavericks an exciting team to watch.Meanwhile, Anthony Davis’ name returned to the spotlight after the Mavs fired GM Nico Harrison, the executive who swapped AD for Luka Doncic. Although Harrison is out, Davis' injuries are only reminding fans of what they lost in the Doncic trade.Davis to Charlotte will fit well into Charles Lee’s deliberate offensive scheme. However, giving up first-round picks for a much older and oft-injured player might not be in their cards.Anthony Davis has a player option in 2027, while LaMelo Ball is under contract until 2029Contract details are another key part of a potential trade involving Anthony Davis and LaMelo Ball. Davis is on the books for $58.4 million next season before he can exercise a $62.7 million player option in the summer of 2027. If the Charlotte Hornets trade for him and Davis opts out, the Hornets get less than two seasons with him.The Mavericks will be in an ideal situation, contract-wise, with Ball. After this season, Ball still has three remaining years before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2029. Ball is only 24 and will be owed $130.5 million in the next three years.