Major moves are taking place in the NBA. This time, the Charlotte Hornets are trading the player who has become the face of the franchise in recent seasons.
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ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news on Thursday. He spoke to sources and learned that the Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves' side of the deal features Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033).
This deal gives the Timberwolves three young stars to build around. Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, will now be teammates with Anthony Edwards, who went first overall in 2020.
Ball has three seasons left on his five-year, $203,852,600 deal that he signed back in July 2023, so he will be locked down for the Timberwolves.
Edwards and 25-year-old Jaden McDaniels are also both under contract through the 2028-29 season. This core will remain intact as the Timberwolves continue to pursue a championship.
Ball has been a key member of the Hornets lineup since making his debut in 2020. He won Rookie of the Year after playing in 51 games and averaging 15.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.
He earned All-Star honors during the 2021-22 season after starting all 75 games in which he played and averaging 20.1 points. Injuries limited Ball's playing time in 2022-25, but he returned in a major way last season.
Ball helped the Hornets win 44 games while averaging 20.1 points with 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds. The Charlotte-based team nearly made the playoffs after defeating such teams as the eventual champion Knicks and playoff teams in the Thunder and Spurs.
However, the season ended during the play-in tournament. Charlotte has not made the playoffs since 2016.
Reid, 26, has spent seven years lining up at center for the Timberwolves since going undrafted. He has averaged 11.9 points and 5.1 rebounds. He has shot .371 in three-point attempts. Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in 2024.
