LaMelo Ball, the dynamic point guard, is set to join the Minnesota Timberwolves in a significant trade that will reshape both franchises.
The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to send Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for power forward Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round draft pick in 2033, three first-round pick swaps, and three future second-round picks.
The pick swaps are slated for 2028, 2029, and 2030, while the Hornets will also acquire second-round selections in 2029, 2032, and 2033.
A person familiar with the situation confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity as the deal, initially reported by ESPN, awaits official league approval.
Ball, 24, was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft and had three years remaining on a five-year, $203.9 million designated rookie contract, a franchise record for the Hornets.
An All-Star in 2022, Ball has faced challenges with ankle and foot injuries throughout his career. However, he played in 72 games last season, averaging 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds, contributing to the Hornets’ 44 wins before their elimination in the play-in tournament by the Orlando Magic.
Known for his exceptional offensive talent, Ball finished second in the league in three-pointers made last year with 272.
His ability to create opportunities off the dribble, coupled with his unique passing vision and knack for hitting step-back three-pointers, makes him one of the NBA’s most exciting scoring point guards.
Despite his offensive brilliance, his defensive shortcomings were occasionally a point of contention for coach Charles Lee. Ball’s six seasons with the Hornets never culminated in a playoff appearance, with injuries, including 141 missed games over the previous three seasons, playing a significant role.
This trade is anticipated to be part of a larger transaction that will see Julius Randle move from Minnesota to Brooklyn, involving the Chicago Bulls. This complex deal is expected to generate an NBA-record trade exception of nearly $41 million for the Hornets.
All transactions are pending finalization until July 6, when the league’s moratorium on such moves is lifted. This move follows a trend of blockbuster trades across the league, including Giannis Antetokounmpo’s recent move from Milwaukee to Miami.
Looking ahead, the Hornets are expected to re-sign unrestricted free agent Coby White to assume the starting point guard role. White, the all-time leading scorer in North Carolina high school basketball history, averaged 15.6 points and 3 assists per game last season for Charlotte, shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc after being acquired from the Chicago Bulls.
For the Timberwolves, acquiring Ball represents a bold move in their pursuit of a championship. The team, which experienced a five-game loss in 2025 to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder and a defeat by the San Antonio Spurs last month, recognized they had not yet reached the championship level despite building their roster around 2020 first overall pick Anthony Edwards.
President of basketball operations Tim Connelly has a history of aggressive roster improvements, including the 2022 trade for Rudy Gobert and the move of Karl-Anthony Towns two years ago.
To facilitate the trade, Minnesota had to part ways with Naz Reid, the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, who was a popular figure and would have been in line for a starting position following Randle’s departure.
Reid, 26, an undrafted 6-foot-11 center from LSU in 2019, developed into an excellent offensive player with a shooting touch and quickness to the rim. Despite playing through a painful shoulder injury, he appeared in 77 regular-season games, averaging 13.6 points and a career-best 6.2 rebounds.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch had previously expressed regret over his decision to make Edwards the starting point guard, stating it set the team back.
With veteran Mike Conley set to be a free agent and transitioning to a more limited role, and Ayo Dosunmu, a combo guard, re-signing to solidify the backcourt, Minnesota sought additional ball-handling options.
Connelly hinted at such a move after the first round of the draft, stating, “We have to ensure that we’re creating as many good shots as possible, specifically for Ant, and whether that’s on our present roster or whether it’s looking outside of our team, it’s something that we certainly have to address.”
Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson is scheduled to address the deal at a Thursday news conference, where the team will also introduce first-round draft picks Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson Jr.
