There had been rumblings of a LaMelo Ball trade for years, but no indication that a move out of Charlotte was imminent.
That was, until Wednesday night. Following the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft, rumors began picking up steam in relation to a potential LaMelo blockbuster. The Hornets, equipped with plenty of young talent, are looking to usher in a new era. That means finding a new home for their talented, but ball-dominant, lead guard.
Timberwolves Trade Reaction
It didn’t take long before the Hornets found a suitor for Ball. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a deal for the former All-Star on Thursday morning.
In return for LaMelo and wing Josh Green, Charlotte got back the following:
- PF/C Naz Reid
- 2033 unprotected first round pick
- Three first round pick swaps (’28, ’29, ’30)
- Three second round picks (’29, ’32, ’33)
The Timberwolves, having already traded Julius Randle to the Nets and re-signed Ayo Dosunmu, have been rebuilding their roster. Now, the club has arguably the NBA’s best back court between Ball and franchise cornerstone Anthony Edwards. Don’t sleep on Josh Green either, a decent 3-and-D wing that gives his new team added depth.
In the trade’s aftermath, Minnesota’s odds at winning the NBA Finals next season are +2200 on DraftKings Sportsbook. That’s good enough for sixth-best in the association. However, they’re still a clear underdog compared to the Spurs (+250) and Thunder (+260).
The projected starting lineup for Minnesota is:
- PG LaMelo Ball
- SG Anthony Edwards
- SG/SF Ayo Dosunmu
- SF/PF Jaden McDaniels
- C Rudy Gobert
This is only temporary, however. A Timberwolves front office that loves pulling off big moves probably isn’t done. Acquiring a serviceable big man that can shoot should be Minnesota’s newest priority. Additional help on the wings is needed as well.
For the past few weeks, the Timberwolves have been heavily involved in trade rumors. However, it’s interesting that one of the NBA’s best defensive units is giving up a haul for a lackluster defender. Perhaps that added scoring punch can take an already good Minnesota team into elite status. On paper, I’m not convinced it’s worth losing Reid and plenty of draft capital.
Timberwolves Trade Grade: C+
Hornets Trade Reaction
As for the Hornets, it’s a stunning move on a number of levels. The franchise selected Ball with the third overall pick back in 2020. While he’s a flawed player, it’s rare to see a team give up on a talented 24-year-old scorer. However, there were legitimate concerns with LaMelo’s fit on an up and coming Charlotte club. His knack for inefficient scoring and mediocre defense don’t seem to mesh with a spaced out, defensively-minded roster.
Ball will be the big name involved in this transaction, but Reid is no slouch. The former Sixth Man of the Year looked like a potential starter for Minnesota following the Randle deal. He’ll likely get to fulfill that role, just on a brand new team. While his defense isn’t the best, Reid’s knack for spacing the floor (career 37% 3PT) and hauling in rebounds makes him incredibly valuable. Last season, the Hornets tended to stick with traditional big men Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate. Now, they’ll have the ability to wield a true five-out lineup.
An underrated aspect of this trade for the Hornets? Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, it creates a $40.7M trade exception. That could be used later this offseason to bring in a high-priced star.
The projected starting lineup for Charlotte is:
- PG Coby White
- SG Kon Knueppel
- SF Brandon Miller
- PF Miles Bridges
- C Naz Reid
Much like Minnesota, expect more wheeling and dealing from Charlotte. Outside of White and rookie Christian Anderson, there aren’t many guards on the roster. Finding another reliable playmaker will be crucial if this Hornets squad wants to become Eastern Conference contenders.
The Hornets are +4000 to win the Eastern Conference, tied for fourth-highest among all 15 teams. They’re +20000 on DraftKings Sportsbook to win the NBA Finals.
All things considered, Ball wasn’t a great fit for the future of this franchise. It’s clear that Charlotte is now leaning on the duo of Knueppel and Miller going forward. That’s not necessarily a bad bet, and Reid is the kind of big man the team lacked last season. However, the need to add a reliable guard or two becomes paramount. Failure to do so could send the Hornets back into the lottery.
