Videos by According2HipHop
Just days after Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat, another blockbuster deal has shaken the NBA landscape. According to ESPN NBA Insider, Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are sending their All-Star guard, LaMelo Ball, to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
LaMelo Ball Traded to Timberwolves
In the full terms of the deal, the Hornets will send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves. And in exchange will receive a standout big man for Naz Reid. They will also acquire hefty compensation in future draft picks. Included a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033 according to Charania.
Last season, Ball had an impressive campaign for Charlotte. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. The move to Minnesota will pair him with another All-Star guard, Anthony Edwards. And the pairing will give them one of the more explosive backcourts in the league. Which will help them in a stacked Western Conference come playoff time.
The Timberwolves send a haul to the Hornets for a star-studded new backcourt in Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball — the Nos. 1 and 3 picks in 2020. Charlotte didn't shop Ball in the market, but listened and received multiple rich offers before filling a significant need in the… https://t.co/zVKBB1B7hC
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2026
Minnesota looked like they were on the trajectory to being a championship competitor after Edwards led them back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025. But this past season, they were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games.
Now with the addition of Ball and an already established defensive frontcourt of Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves look ready to finally make the leap into championship contention. It will be interesting to see if they can go all the way next season.
