Timberwolves Acquire Lamelo Ball in Major Trade With Hornets

WHO:

RealGM Basketball - The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a three-year, $10 million contract with Jaylen Clark.

RealGM Basketball - The Minnesota Timberwolves held trade talks with the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey.

RealGM Basketball - The Timberwolves also discussed a trade for Jaylen Brown with the Boston Celtics.

Newsweek - LaVar Ball urged the Timberwolves to add his other sons, Lonzo and LiAngelo, to the roster.

The Source - Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball, Naz Reid, Josh Green, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Coby White, Brandon Miller, Moussa Diabaté, Miles Bridges, Kon Knueppel.

WHAT:

RealGM Basketball - Jaylen Clark averaged 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game over 68 appearances last season.

NBA.com - The Timberwolves traded Julius Randle and Naz Reid to acquire LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.

NBA.com - The Timberwolves traded for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green, marking the third major roster change for the team in five offseasons, following trades for Rudy Gobert in 2022 and a swap involving Karl-Anthony Towns in 2024.

NBA.com - The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, who was central to their top-five offense, indicating a significant change in direction for the franchise.

NBA.com - Anthony Edwards shot 69-for-139 (49.6%) on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers during the previous season, ranking him first among 308 players with at least 75 attempts.

NBA.com - The Hornets' starting lineup, which included Ball, outscored opponents by 26.4 points per 100 possessions in 509 minutes, the best mark for any lineup that played at least 250 minutes in the last 19 seasons.

RealGM Basketball - Josh Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists in 32.1 minutes across 54 games last season for the Bulls.

RealGM Basketball - Giddey signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls during the 2025 offseason.

NBA.com - The Hornets have missed the playoffs for the last 10 years, which is the longest active drought in the league and the longest in Eastern Conference history.

NBA.com - The Hornets were statistically the eighth best team in the league last season, outscoring opponents by 4.9 points per 100 possessions, a significant improvement from the previous season's minus-9.1 per 100.

Pro Football Network - An NBA analyst predicted that LaMelo Ball's arrival will lead to Anthony Edwards requesting a trade.

The Source - The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets in a trade.

NBA.com - The Timberwolves traded Naz Reid, a first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks to the Hornets.

NBA.com - This trade marks the third major roster change for the Timberwolves in five offseasons.

NBA.com - The Hornets have missed the playoffs for the last 10 years, the longest active drought in the league.

NBA.com - The Hornets were statistically the eighth best team in the league last season, outscoring opponents by 4.9 points per 100 possessions.

WHERE:

The Source - The trade involves teams located in Minnesota and North Carolina.

WHEN:

NBA.com - The Timberwolves made the trade on a Thursday.

WHY:

Pro Football Network - LaVar Ball believes the Timberwolves now have the formula to win an NBA title after acquiring his son, LaMelo Ball.

Pro Football Network - LaVar Ball guaranteed that the Timberwolves would win a championship if they added his other sons, LiAngelo and Lonzo, to the roster.

RealGM Basketball - The Timberwolves aimed to alleviate the burden on Anthony Edwards against opposing defenses by adding another playmaker.

Pro Football Network - An NBA analyst suggested that the Hornets' decision to trade LaMelo Ball was a strategic move to change direction for the franchise.

Pro Football Network - An NBA analyst suggested there are consequences for the Hornets' decision to trade LaMelo Ball.

NBA.com - The Timberwolves are looking to improve their roster and performance after previous trades and roster changes.

NBA.com - The Hornets are changing direction by trading away a key player who was central to their offense.

HOW:

NBA.com - The Timberwolves executed the trade by offering multiple draft picks and players in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have secured a three-year contract worth $10 million with Jaylen Clark. Last season, Clark averaged four points and one point eight rebounds in just over 13 minutes per game across 68 appearances. LaVar Ball expressed confidence that with the addition of his son, LaMelo Ball, the Timberwolves now have the formula to win an NBA title.