Blockbuster trade done: LaMelo Ball to Minnesota

The NBA's 2026 offseason has been rocked by a blockbuster trade. Per ESPN, the Charlotte Hornets traded star point guard LaMelo Ball, the face of their team, to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Just a day after reports that the Hornets were open to "aggressive offers" for Ball, the deal was completed in under 12 hours, and the LaMelo era in Charlotte officially came to an end.

Per the details of the trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves added LaMelo Ball along with Josh Green. In return, the Charlotte Hornets received a rich package of Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033. With this move, the Timberwolves added a star point guard alongside Anthony Edwards to form a powerful backcourt duo in the Western Conference.

For Ball, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft, this season marked a significant comeback. The star player, who battled ankle injuries across the previous three seasons, featured in 72 games last season and averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists. After a 4-14 start, the Hornets, who had one of the NBA's best offenses once the calendar turned to 2026, came one game short of the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament with a trio of Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.

This decision is seen as a bold and risky move on the Hornets' side. The team had become one of the league's hottest sides in 2025-26 and put together one of the most effective five-man lineups seen in a long time. Ball is known as an elite passer, and young players like Knueppel and Miller benefited greatly from his creativity. On Minnesota's side, this move came after the trade that sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, and was the most striking step of the Timberwolves' offseason roster overhaul.