By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Minnesota Timberwolves are acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets in a stunning, multi-asset blockbuster deal, as reported by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania on Thursday.
The agreement, which also sends guard Josh Green to the Wolves, shakes up the Western Conference hierarchy by pairing the 24-year-old All-Star with superstar Anthony Edwards.
To secure this dynamic, high-octane backcourt built for immediate championship contention, Minnesota parted with former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid.
In addition to the versatile frontline engine, Charlotte secures a massive haul of future draft capital, including an unprotected 2033 first-round draft choice, three first-round pick swaps spanning 2028, 2029, and 2030, alongside three future second-round selections.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lkhXBWHCrA
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2026
This pending trade agreement was reached shortly after reports surfaced that the Hornets were actively engaging in talks with several teams regarding their franchise point guard.
Since being selected third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm, the Anaheim native has appeared in 303 career games, averaging 20.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per contest. The former Rookie of the Year, who also had a brief professional spell in Lithuania back in 2018 before entering the league, now gets a fresh start with a title contender.
For the rebuilding Hornets, parting ways with their centerpiece signals a hard pivot toward a total roster reset. By shedding salary and prioritizing long-term assets, the front office establishes an immense chest of draft equity while turning the keys over to a new young core centered around their incoming draft picks and the newly acquired frontline depth.
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