LaMelo Ball, a prominent guard in the NBA, has reportedly been traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal, which became known on Thursday, unites Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, with Anthony Edwards, the first overall selection from the same draft.
Ball, the 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year, has emerged as one of the league's top guards, averaging 20.8 points and 7.3 assists per game over his career. However, his playing time has been impacted by injuries, with him appearing in only 105 games between the start of the 2022-23 season and the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Hornets, who have not reached the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, are sending Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota. In return, the Timberwolves are acquiring Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick, three future first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
Minnesota has reached the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, including appearances in the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025. The addition of Ball is expected to bolster their roster alongside Edwards, who recorded a career-high average of 28.8 points per game last season.
Charlotte has been actively building its collection of draft assets. The team also possesses six first-round picks and eight second-round picks over the next three offseasons. Earlier in the week, they selected Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson with the 14th and 18th overall selections, respectively, and previously drafted former Duke star Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick last year.
In 2023, Ball signed a five-year, $260 million contract extension with the Hornets. At the time of the signing, he expressed optimism about the team's direction. "I think it’s just a great position and I think we are all going the right way now," Ball stated.
