TRADE: Lamelo Ball + Josh Green to MIN | Naz Reid 1 FRP + 6 Swaps to CHA

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

@YossiGozlan
The Hornets reduce their payroll by $21 million by trading LaMelo Ball and Josh Green for Naz Reid.

Josh Green for Naz Reid is a clean salary match, allowing them to create a $40.8 million trade exception for Ball.

They also have 12 future first-round picks through 2033.

[meistermatze]

Wow, 12 first-round picks over the next seven years is an incredible foundation for a rebuild. The Wolves desperately need a PF now, so it'll be interesting to see who they target next. But LaMelo and Ant is a fascinating pairing. It could be incredible, or it could be a complete disaster.

At least we can finally put the Kyrie-to-Minnesota rumors to rest.

[loki]

I'm guessing Minnesota intends to run with McDaniels at the 4, but it's worth keeping an eye of them down the road as a potential PJ Washington landing spot. Right now it doesn't look quite possible for them to add PJ and stay under the 1st apron.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

TWolves are gonna be one of the most fun teams in the league.

[cow]

Start the clock on Ant asking out of Minny.

[Chicagojk]

It will be fun to watch. I understand there are some protections on some of the pick swaps as other teams have these picks already with restrictions.

Anyway, yes Minny should be fun. I just don’t know how they get out of the good but not great team. We will see. That GM is very aggressive. I don’t think he is done either

[DallasMaverick]

It will be fun to watch.  I understand there are some protections on some of the pick swaps as other teams have these picks already with restrictions.

Anyway, yes Minny should be fun.  I just don’t know how they get out of the good but not great team.  We will see.  That GM is very aggressive.  I don’t think he is done either

Nico was aggressive, too.

[KillerLeft]

Nico was aggressive, too.

Yes, way too aggressive.

[david75090]

Lamelo must be toting some baggage to be traded like that with his skill-set. Probably start with the Ball Family Circus.

[cow]

Lamelo must be toting some baggage to be traded like that with his skill-set. Probably start with the Ball Family Circus.

All the talent in the world but doesn't seem serious about his craft.  He could outgrow that of course, Lemelo did.  I don't hate the gamble by Minny since the cost was relatively low, but I don't think it will work out well for them either and it feels like they are running out of chess pieces to make moves.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Tim MacMahon: "I texted several general managers a simple question: What do you think of the LaMelo deal? And one replied with one sentence: Tim is a riverboat gambler. And this is big-time, high-stakes gambling that he's doing right here. And you understand the swing that he's taking, you understand the hole in the roster it's creating. Chris Finch is also one of the most creative coaches in the league, and he's going to earn his money figuring out how to make this work." "I think Tim Connelly and Chris Finch have long believed that LaMelo Ball is a perfect fit for Anthony Edwards in that backcourt. And I know that over the last several years, they have checked in on LaMelo and Charlotte a couple of times. Each time they were turned away, and so something has happened in the last couple of days or weeks to get the Charlotte Hornets to a point where they were comfortable parting with LaMelo Ball.


YouTube

[speedkilz88]

Man, Josh Green never did develop did he?

[Smitty]

Man, Josh Green never did develop did he?

He's still a good 3-and-D guy. Will never be an all-star or anything. Good role player. Can spot start some.

Josh Green's catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage:

Last season: 43%
2024-25: 39.9%
2023-24: 38.7%
2022-23: 41.3%

[mvossman]

He's still a good 3-and-D guy. Will never be an all-star or anything. Good role player. Can spot start some.

Josh Green's catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage:

Last season: 43%
2024-25: 39.9%
2023-24: 38.7%
2022-23: 41.3%

He is basically a more timid Max Christie.

[Smitty]

He is basically a more timid Max Christie.

I can see that. Green is a couple years older, so you hope he will develop even more than Green, but yeah. Probably even more comparable defensively. We always wanted a bit more from Green as a POA defender. We say a lot of the same things about Max now.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/hornetsreddit/status/20714...59997?s=46

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Oh man I'm gonna have to take a big L on Lamelo.

we will see

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Oh man I'm gonna have to take a big L on Lamelo.

we will see

I'm gonna be walking around here like this if Lamelo has a great season.