NBA Blockbuster: LaMelo Ball Heading To Western Conference
Charlotte is indeed now trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, league sources say, after @TheSteinLine revealed Minnesota’s interest last night.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 25, 2026
The Hornets have successfully pried Naz Reid away from the Wolves and will now try to retain Pistons target Coby White in free agency. https://t.co/qWc2lX66KS pic.twitter.com/HArnCctquh
The T-Wolves have long been searching for an answer at the lead guard position, and now they have one of the most exciting and talented guards in the league to line up next to Anthony Edwards. The two were the first & third overall picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.
But it came at a steep cost, as Hornets nab prized big man Naz Reid and a slew of firsts.
Just in on @GetUpESPN -- the Minnesota Timberwolves land LaMelo Ball to pair with Anthony Edwards, sending Naz Reid and a haul of picks: pic.twitter.com/5VPCmhPhHB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2026
Charlotte didn’t come into the off-season looking to trade Ball, but according to Shams Charania, they were listening on offers and one came in that they just couldn’t refuse.
The Hornets badly wanted a legit big man to add to the frontcourt, and Reid provides that.
It's a risk for Minnesota, as Ball has faced plenty of injury troubles in his career. He was at his highest value right now as he played 72 games last season. But before that, he played just 47, 22, and 36 games in the previous three years, and only 51 in his rookie season. But he's also averaged 20.8 points per game and 7.3 assists in his career.
Reid has been a top contender for Sixth Man of the Year the past several seasons, and won it in 2023-24. Now he gets his chance to start in Charlotte.
