Reports: Wolves land LaMelo Ball in blockbuster trade with Hornets

Last season, LaMelo Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists per game for Charlotte.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have shaken up their roster with another summer blockbuster trade.

Per multiple reports, the Hornets are dealing former All-Star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Hornets will send Josh Green, along with Ball, to the Wolves. Additionally, the picks are: a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, pick swaps in 2028, ’29 and ’30 and three second-round picks (’29, ’32 and ’33).

The Timberwolves send a haul to the Hornets for a star-studded new backcourt in Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball — the Nos. 1 and 3 picks in 2020. Charlotte didn't shop Ball in the market, but listened and received multiple rich offers before filling a significant need in the…

https://t.co/zVKBB1B7hC

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)

June 25, 2026

The Timberwolves now have No. 1 and No. 3 picks of the 2020 Draft in their starting backcourt.

https://t.co/ARk1qXqAVo

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)

Wolves receive:

LaMelo Ball

Josh Green

Hornets receive:

Naz Reid

Unprotected 2033 first-round pick

First-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030

Second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033

Ball had three years left on a franchise-record five-year, $203.9 million designated rookie contract

The No. 3 pick in the

2020 Draft

, Ball will pair with Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards to form a potent backcourt combo in the Western Conference. Ball was healthy last season after being sidelined with injuries in the previous three seasons, posting 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game in 72 games for Charlotte.

The Wolves’ move for Ball comes days after they

reportedly traded

All-Star forward Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. Aside from trading away Randle, the Wolves also reportedly reached

an agreement

with guard Ayo Dosunmu to keep him in the fold for four more seasons.

Minnesota now boasts a backcourt of Ball, Dosunmu, Edwards and veteran guard Mike Conley, among others.

Ball ranked No. 2 in the NBA with 272 made 3-pointers on 36.8% shooting and was an All-Star in 2021-22 after averaging 20.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 7.6 apg. He was named Kia Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and was a key piece for Charlotte last season as it went from 19 wins in 2024-25 to 44 wins and a spot in the SoFi Play-In Tournament.

Reid is a former Kia Sixth Man of the Year Award winner and one of the top reserves in the NBA (he finished third in Kia Sixth Man voting

last season

). In 2025-26, Reid averaged 13.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.2 apg in 2025-26 and 12.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 2.1 apg as the Wolves reached the Western Conference semifinals.

Charlotte will add Reid to a core that includes Kia All-Rookie First Team swingman Kon Knueppel, veterans Miles Bridges and Grant Williams and rising forward Brandon Miller. The Hornets reached the Play-In Tournament last season and

rewarded coach Charles Lee

with a contract extension.

Lee said shortly after receiving the extension that one of his goals for 2026-27 was to take Charlotte to the playoffs.

Charlotte led the league in rebounding percentage (54.8%), second-chance points (19.0) and 3-pointers made per game (17.3) since Jan 1 and went on to beat Miami in the Play-In for its first postseason win since 2016 in the No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed Play-In game.

The Hornets finished January with an 11-6 record and tied for the highest point differential on the road (+151) in any month in NBA history, earning Lee the award for Eastern Conference Coach of the Month.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.