Charlotte Hornets trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota Timberwolves
LaMelo Ball is officially on the move.
The Charlotte Hornets agreed to a trade Thursday morning that sends Ball and guard Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for forward Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks, league sources confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Sources told The Observer earlier Thursday morning that multiple teams — including the Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors — were in the mix to acquire Ball, the Hornets’ polarizing but undeniably popular star point guard.
The Observer also previously reported that Ball had the desire to stay in Charlotte for the long-term, as he’s said publicly for years.
Since entering the league in 2020, it’s been a struggle for Ball to stay healthy as he’s dealt with ankle issues. But that wasn’t the case this past season, when he logged action in 72 games, and helped spur the Hornets to a berth in the NBA’s play-in tournament.
That’s the most he’s played following his All-Star year in 2021-22.
Ball, 24, finished second in the NBA this past season in made 3-pointers with 272, trailing only teammate Kon Knueppel. He also ranked ninth in the league in assists per game at 7.1.
The trade paves the way for Coby White, a North Carolina native and former UNC star, to step into the starting point guard role next year. White is an unrestricted free agent and Jeff Peterson, the Hornets’ president of basketball operations, has mentioned he’s “a priority” re-signing candidate.
Sending Ball to Minnesota also creates a massive $40.7 million trade exception, reportedly the largest in league history. That slot could be used to bring in someone like Jaylen Brown, who was dangled in trade talks with Milwaukee before the Bucks sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Brown knows Hornets coach Charles Lee from their championship season together in 2023-24.
Ball’s departure is likely only the first domino of the Hornets’ restructuring their roster this offseason.
What the Hornets are getting in exchange for LaMelo Ball
Here’s a more detailed enumeration of the deal:
The Timberwolves receive:
- LaMelo Ball
- Josh Green
The Hornets receive:
- Naz Reid
- A 2033 unprotected first-round pick
- 2028 first-round pick swap
- 2029 first-round pick swap
- 2030 first-round pick swap
- 2029 second-round pick
- 2032 second-round pick
- 2033 second-round pick
An “unprotected first-round pick” essentially means that the Hornets will get the Wolves’ pick no matter what in 2033 — no safety net or guardrails in place for Minnesota. The “pick swaps” allow the Hornets to either use the Timberwolves’ first-round draft position or their own first-round draft position in the 2028, 2029 and 2030 drafts. (Think of it as another tool for flexibility on those draft nights.)
This draft capital, however useful, all deals in the long-term. The only player the Hornets will receive in immediate return for their duo of guards is Reid.
On paper, Reid immediately injects some much-needed stability in the Hornets’ frontcourt. The big man, who has spent the last seven seasons in Minnesota and will turn 27 in August, averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and one block per game.
He’s also reliably available: He has only played under 68 games in a season once in his career — his rookie year — and has played 75-plus games in five seasons.
In 2025-26, specifically, he played in 77 games, averaging 26.1 minutes per game as the understudy to premier defending center Rudy Gobert.
Reid, who also shot 36.2% from 3-point range last season, will be teaming up with Moussa Diabate in the Charlotte frontcourt. Diabate broke out for the Hornets this past year; the team hit its stride when Diabate was on the floor with its myriad shooters — Ball, Knueppel and Brandon Miller among them — spacing the floor.
The 24-year-old forward started 47 of the 73 games he played in, averaging 7.9 points (on only five shots a game), 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists a game.
This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 8:32 AM.
