The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly reached an agreement to acquire point guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange, the Hornets are set to receive power forward Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round draft pick in 2033, three first-round pick swaps, and three future second-round picks.
The first-round pick swaps are scheduled for 2028, 2029, and 2030. The Hornets will also gain second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033. This deal, which has been reported by various sources, awaits league approval.
Timberwolves’ Roster Adjustments and Ambitions
Ball, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has spent six seasons with the Hornets. He was an All-Star in 2022 and played in 72 games last season, averaging 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. He finished second in the league in three-pointers made last year with 272. Despite his individual performance, the Hornets did not reach the playoffs during his tenure, with injuries impacting his availability in previous seasons. He missed 141 games over the three seasons prior to last season.
The Timberwolves, after reaching the Western Conference finals in previous seasons, were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs. This outcome reportedly highlighted to Minnesota that they needed to reach a championship level. The acquisition of Ball, a pure point guard, is seen as a move to address this need, particularly to complement Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Tim Connelly, the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, is known for his aggressive approach to roster upgrades. The team has been actively exploring ways to enhance Edwards’ supporting cast. The need for a point guard became apparent as Mike Conley aged out of the starting lineup last season and is now a free agent. While Edwards took on a playmaking role at times, his assist numbers were lower than expected given his increased ball-handling duties.
The Timberwolves recently re-signed Ayo Dosunmu to a contract, but he is considered more of a combo guard. Another starting guard from last season, Donte DiVincenzo, is expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season due to injury. These factors underscore the team’s need for a dedicated point guard.
Impact of the Trade and Future Outlook
The trade involving Ball is expected to be part of a larger transaction that includes Minnesota’s agreement to send Julius Randle to Brooklyn. This prior deal allowed the Timberwolves to offload a significant salary, providing them with more financial flexibility. The Randle trade is not expected to be finalized for several weeks as both teams work through other moves to maximize their deal-making capabilities.
Naz Reid, who is 26 years old, has played all seven of his NBA seasons with the Timberwolves. He was a popular player for the franchise, averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds last season. The Hornets are expected to re-sign unrestricted free agent Coby White to serve as their starting point guard following Ball’s departure.
The deals cannot be officially completed until July 6, when the league moratorium on such transactions is lifted.
Source: theguardian.com
