Ben Johns Pickleball Trade Deal: In a huge trade that shook the Major League Pickleball world, the LA Mad Drops have acquired top player Ben Johns from the Carolina Hogs. The deal, announced just ahead of the upcoming MLP Dallas event, also involved multiple players, cash considerations, and a second trade with the Utah Black Diamonds. The Mad Drops are currently ranked sixth and made this move to boost their chances of winning the 2025 championship.
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Ben Johns Moves to LA Mad Drops
The Carolina Hogs traded Ben Johns and Etta Tuionetoa to the LA Mad Drops. In return, they received Brandon French, who was recently claimed on waivers by the LA Mad Drops, and Danna Funaro, plus a cash amount. This trade came shortly after the United Pickleball Association ended Quang Duong’s contract with the Mad Drops. That left a major gap in their lineup, and they filled it with Ben Johns.
Ben Johns is widely known as one of the best players in the sport. While he struggled to lead the Carolina Hogs to victory, he has had great success in Major League Pickleball’s team-based format. Johns has won four MLP titles:
One in 2021 with the BLQK Bears
Two in 2023 with the Seattle Pioneers
One in 2023 with the Chicago Slice
The Carolina Hogs had invested heavily in Johns, spending 840,000 draft points in the first draft after the PPA and MLP merger, plus a $420,000 keeper fee in 2025. Letting go of such a big name suggests that the Hogs are trying to rebuild and save funds, especially since they are currently in 11th place and unlikely to reach the playoffs.
Other possible reasons for the trade include the team wanting to put Johns on a stronger roster for the good of the league, or that Ben Johns himself may have wanted a move to a more competitive team.
Second Trade Sends Etta Tuionetoa to Utah
After getting Etta Tuionetoa from the Carolina Hogs, the LA Mad Drops quickly made another move. They traded Etta Tuionetoa to the Utah Black Diamonds in exchange for Mehvish Safdar and cash considerations.
This was the first time the Utah Black Diamonds spent a large sum to get a player. They are currently ninth in the standings, so this trade could help them secure a playoff spot. Four of their starting players now live in Utah, which should help with team chemistry and practice routines.
Utah’s current team includes:
Connor Garnett
Tyler Loong
Etta Tuionetoa (new)
Allyce Jones
Substitutes are Genie Erokina and Yates Johnson.
LA Mad Drops Look to Win Big
This bold move by the LA Mad Drops shows they are serious about winning the title in 2025. Their team is now stronger than ever, with big names ready to lead.
Their lineup now looks like this:
Ben Johns (new)
Hunter Johnson
Jade Kawamoto
Their substitutes are Mehvish Safdar (new) and Wesley Burrows, with Thomas Wilson on injured reserve.
This group has strong pairings for mixed doubles and same-gender doubles. Ben Johns and Catherine Parenteau are expected to team up, and Hunter Johnson will likely continue playing with Jade Kawamoto. Johns and Johnson are also expected to form a powerful men’s doubles team. All three—Johns, Johnson, and Parenteau—are known as top singles players.
Their new lineup will debut at MLP Dallas next week.
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Changes for Carolina Hogs
Now sitting in 11th place, the Carolina Hogs seem to be focusing on rebuilding for the future. With Ben Johns and Etta Tuionetoa gone, the team is changing direction.
Their current team includes:
Roscoe Bellamy
Brandon French (new)
Tammy Emmrich
Liz Truluck
Substitutes are Martin Emmrich and Danna Funaro (new).
The Hogs are expected to make more changes to build a stronger team for 2026.
What This Means for the League
The LA Mad Drops are now strong contenders for the title. Their new lineup has strong, experienced players with great chemistry. They will try to challenge the current top team, the Dallas Flash, who are 15-1 this season. The Flash were unbeaten until they lost to the Columbus Sliders last Saturday.
The Utah Black Diamonds could also rise in the standings with their latest move. And while the Carolina Hogs may miss the playoffs this year, their rebuild may set them up for future success.
News in Brief: Ben Johns Pickleball Trade Deal
The LA Mad Drops made a huge move by trading for star player Ben Johns from the Carolina Hogs. Etta Tuionetoa was later traded to the Utah Black Diamonds. These changes aim to boost both LA and Utah in the playoff race, while Carolina looks to rebuild for 2026.
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