Hornets surprisingly send LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves

Hornets to Trade LaMelo Ball to Timberwolves

It seems the Hornets are making a significant shift, as they prepare to trade LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves, according to reports. This move is set to take place on Thursday.

In this trade, Ball will join Anthony Edwards in exchange for Naz Reid, along with an unprotected first-round pick for 2033. Additionally, three first-round pick swaps (for 2028, 2029, and 2030) and three second-round picks are included.

The Timberwolves will also receive reserve guard Josh Green in the deal.

This decision follows discussions around the need for the Timberwolves to improve their team or risk having to trade star player Anthony Edwards in the near future.

Pairing Ball and Edwards is anticipated to be intriguing since Ball is a rather polarizing figure in the NBA. His defensive commitment, or often lack thereof, is well-known. However, he did improve his performance in the latter part of last season, contributing to the Hornets’ impressive 18-9 record, which was the best in the league at that time.

One of the concerns for fans of Ball is his shot selection. He has a tendency to attempt off-balance jump shots from considerable distances—something very few coaches would advocate for. So, it might be quite a task for Timberwolves coach Chris Finch to guide Ball towards better shooting choices and enhance his defensive skills.

Still, the Timberwolves may have some support in the form of Rudy Gobert, a consistent Defensive Player of the Year candidate, which might lessen some concerns regarding Ball’s defensive shortcomings.

Ball’s NBA journey has been quite a rollercoaster. With only 72 games last season, his second-best total, he has only played in 105 of a possible 246 games over the last three seasons. Interestingly, he averaged 20.1 points per game, his lowest since his rookie season, but still played a crucial role in helping the Hornets reach the play-in tournament and secure their highest win total since joining the league.

For the Wolves, losing Reid may impact their depth at the big man position, especially after trading forward Julius Randle for a salary dump earlier in the week.