The Minnesota Timberwolves are completing a blockbuster deal to acquire star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets per Shams Charania.
According to reports, the deal will see Charlotte receive Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033). The deal comes just days after the team traded Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in what amounted to a salary dump.
Many assumed that the team was simply clearing cap space so they could sign Ayo Dosunmu to a long term deal, which they did in short order, inking him to a 5 year, $112M pact. But the trade also freed up $33M in cap space, while also creating a $33M trade exception for the team, both of which factored into the Timberwolves ability to land Ball from Charlotte a few days later.
The league’s 2021 Rookie of the Year, Ball has had an uneven career due in large part to injuries. Despite being in the league for 6 years now, he’s suited up for just 303 games total, and has played 55+ games in a season just twice (2021-22, and 2025-26). Nevertheless, he’s been a productive player when healthy, averaging 20.8pts/5.7reb/7.3ast over the course of his career.
Last season Ball had the lowest scoring average of his career outside of his rookie season (20.1pts per game) but posted a career best 2.8 turnovers per game rate, as Charlotte put a larger emphasis on taking care of the ball as they battled for a playoff spot. The 24 year old has become amongst the highest volume 3 point shooters in the league, averaging 10.3 attempts and 11.2 attempts per game over the last two seasons.
For Minnesota, the acquisition is an interesting one, especially given the fact that they just committed to Dosunmu long term. Either the team plans to go with a “small ball” lineup featuring Dosunmu, Ball and Anthony Edwards, or Dosunmu will be moved into the 6th man position to give the team a spark off the bench.
Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert figure to occupy the other two starting spots, with a sudden void at power forward with Reid’s departure. The club did select 6’9″ Purdue power forward Trey Kaufman-Renn at this year’s draft, though he figures to be a bit more of a project than a plug and play day 1 starter with the team.
Ball currently has 3 years remaining on his current contract, but is also eligible to sign a two year, $119.2M extension as of July 6th. For Charlotte, the move allows the team to lean into their new core of Brandon Miller, Don Knueppel, and Miles Bridges.
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.