Charlotte Hornets to Trade Lamelo Ball to Minnesota Timberwolves in Multi-Player Blockbuster
The franchise-altering deal pairs the former All-Star guard with Anthony Edwards in exchange for Naz Reid and an extensive package of draft capital.
Summary
The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to send franchise point guard LaMelo Ball and wing Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves
In return Minnesota is trading center Naz Reid an unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick three first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks
The monumental trade aligns the top talents of the 2020 NBA Draft class in the Timberwolves backcourt
The Charlotte Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly agreed on a massive blockbuster trade centering around star point guard LaMelo Ball. According to initial league reports published by ESPN, the former All-Star playmaker is heading to Minnesota alongside wing Josh Green, shaking up the NBA landscape in a definitive win-now push by the Timberwolves front office.
The multi-player transaction requires a major reallocation of assets between both organizations to satisfy structural and salary cap requirements. To secure the 24-year-old guard, the Timberwolves are parting ways with center Naz Reid—the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year and a deeply popular fixture in franchise history. In addition to losing Reid, Minnesota is sending a highly valuable, unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick, three first-round pick swaps spanning 2028, 2029, and 2030, and three future second-round selections arriving in 2029, 2032, and 2033. The complex package is also expected to generate an NBA-record trade exception of nearly $41 million USD for Charlotte.
This strategic reconfiguration heavily alters the immediate trajectories of both franchises. For Minnesota, the acquisition successfully pairs Ball with superstar Anthony Edwards, aligning the first and third overall picks of the 2020 NBA Draft class to form a dynamic, young backcourt. Meanwhile, the Hornets pivot their long-term focus toward their developing young core, headlined by Brandon Miller and Rookie of the Year runner-up Kon Knueppel. Following the trade agreement, Charlotte immediately reinforced its backcourt depth by reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $74 million USD contract with free-agent guard Coby White. The transaction cannot be formally finalized until July 6, when the official league trade moratorium is lifted.
