Timberwolves land LaMelo Ball; Hornets get 7 draft assets
Minnesota pairs Ball with Anthony Edwards, while Charlotte adds picks through 2033 to support a rebuild.
Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly acquired Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball in a blockbuster trade that also sent Josh Green to Minnesota. In return, Charlotte received Naz Reid, one unprotected 2033 NBA first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033. The deal has not been formally announced by either club, but it quickly became one of the biggest transactions ahead of preparations for the 2026/2027 NBA season. Ball, the 2021 Rookie of the Year and the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is projected to strengthen the Timberwolves alongside Anthony Edwards. For the Hornets, the draft package adds flexibility to rebuild the roster after failing to reach the playoffs since 2015/2016.