Hornets trade LaMelo Ball, Josh Green to Timberwolves

The Charlotte Hornets agreed Thursday to trade star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that reshapes both franchises. The trade sends Ball and Green to Minnesota in exchange for center Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033.

The move pairs Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, with the first overall pick from that same class, Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards. Minnesota, which reached the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025 but was eliminated in the second round this past season, had been aggressively seeking a long-term solution at point guard. Team officials believe Ball's elite passing and dynamic shooting will complement Edwards and create one of the league's most explosive backcourts. Edwards has long admired Ball's game, and the front office focused on finding a player who could alleviate the defensive pressure Edwards faced during the playoffs.

For the Hornets, the trade represents a significant pivot after the team's most successful season in a decade, finishing 44-38 and reaching the...