Hornets trade LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Timberwolves for Naz Reid and draft assets

Charlotte has agreed to trade guard LaMelo Ball and forward Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In return, the Hornets will receive forward Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three second-round selections (2029, 2032, 2033) and first-round pick swaps for 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Ball, who has three years remaining on his contract and is eligible for a two-year, $119.2 million extension on July 6, posted averages of 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 72 games last season. His tenure in Charlotte was affected by injuries, limiting him to 105 games between 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Reid, 26, contributed 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season and was named the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has been seeking a complementary backcourt partner for All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, especially after guard Donte DiVincenzo suffered an Achilles rupture in the playoffs.

The trade gives Minnesota a backcourt consisting of Edwards, Ball and wing player Jaden McDaniels, all under contract through the 2028-29 season. Charlotte, meanwhile, will look to expand the roles of recent draft picks Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel and aims to re-sign guard Coby White, who averaged 15.6 points in 21 games after joining the team.

"We appreciate LaMelo’s contributions and wish him the best in Minnesota," a Hornets spokesperson said.

"We’re excited about the pieces we’ve added and the flexibility the draft assets provide," a Timberwolves representative added.

The move follows a period in which the Hornets improved their record dramatically after a poor start to the season, finishing with a 44-win campaign and narrowly missing the play-in tournament. Ball’s tenure in Charlotte included an All-Star selection and a Rookie of the Year award, but the trade marks the end of his six-year stint with the franchise.