LaMelo Ball arrives at the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for weight that moves the NBA market
The Minnesota team continues with its restructuring for the next preseason, incorporating the talented point guard LaMelo Ball, from the Charlotte Hornets, through a complex negotiation.
During last season, Ball demonstrated his outstanding performance by averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists in his performances for the Charlotte team.
The Minnesota Timberwolves carried out yet another significant transaction during the recess period, promoting a profound overhaul of their composition.
Information released by multiple outlets indicates that the Charlotte Hornets are transferring former All-Star LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In return, the Hornets will receive Naz Reid, a first-round pick, plus three exchanges of first-round picks and three second-round picks.
As reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Josh Green will also be sent by the Hornets to the Wolves, joining the package along with Ball. The picks involved in the deal include an unprotected first-round selection in 2033, plus first-round pick swaps for the years 2028, 2029 and 2030, and three second-round picks scheduled for 2029, 2032 and 2033.
Players and picks coming to the Timberwolves
- LaMelo Ball
- Josh Green
Assets that Charlotte receives in the negotiation
- naz reid
- An unprotected 2033 first-round pick
- First-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030
- Second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033
Ball had a five-year, $203.9 million rookie contract with three more years to complete. This agreement represented a financial milestone for the previous franchise.
The third selected in the 2020 Draft, Ball, will join the squad alongside Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, aiming to establish a formidable point guard partnership in the competitive Western Conference. After an injury-plagued period in the previous three seasons, Ball remained in top form last campaign, appearing in 72 games for Charlotte and averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
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Ball’s arrival at the Wolves comes just days after the team was rumored to have traded All-Star winger Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. Complementing this movement, Minnesota would also have sealed an agreement to keep guard Ayo Dosunmu for another four years.
With these acquisitions, Minnesota’s point guard roster now includes names like Ball, Dosunmu, Edwards and the experienced Mike Conley.
Ball stood out in the NBA by converting 272 three-point shots, reaching a rate of 36.8%, which placed him second in the league. He was also selected as an All-Star in the 2021-22 season, recording averages of 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game. Recognized as Kia’s Rookie of the Year in the 2020-21 season, Ball was a crucial element in Charlotte’s evolution last campaign, contributing to the team’s jump from 19 wins in 2024-25 to 44 wins, securing a spot in the SoFi Play-In Tournament.
Reid, a former winner of the Kia Best Sixth Man Award, is considered one of the NBA’s most efficient reserves, having placed third in voting for the same award the previous season. In the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. His performance was slightly better, with 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, as the Wolves advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.
Charlotte will add Reid to a group of players that already includes winger Kon Knueppel, a member of Kia’s first all-freshman team, experienced Miles Bridges and Grant Williams, as well as promising winger Brandon Miller. The Hornets team earned a spot in the Play-In Tournament last season, and in recognition of that performance, head coach Charles Lee was awarded a contract extension.
Immediately following his extension, Coach Lee stated that one of his main goals for the 2026-27 season was to guide the Charlotte team toward the playoffs.
As of January 1, Charlotte has excelled in the league, leading in rebounding percentage (54.8%), second-chance points (19.0) and 3-pointers made per game (17.3). The team even beat Miami in the Play-In, marking their first victory in postseason games since 2016, in a decisive clash between the 9th and 10th placed teams.
The Hornets ended the month of January with a record of 11 wins and 6 losses, equaling the highest points difference as a visitor (+151) ever recorded in a single month in NBA history. This exemplary performance earned Coach Lee the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month award.
