Hornets complete trade sending LaMelo Ball to Minnesota for Naz Reid and draft picks
The run for LaMelo Ball in Charlotte is officially over, ending his six-year tenure with the franchise.
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On Friday, the Hornets completed the four-team trade with Brooklyn, Chicago and Minnesota sending Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030 and second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033.
As part of the deal, Charlotte also picked up the draft rights to Matteo Spagnolo from Minnesota while also getting Mouhamadou Gueye from the Chicago Bulls are trading the forward to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It brings an abrupt conclusion to Ball’s time with the Hornets, just months after logging one of his healthiest seasons since 2021-22 and helping guide Charlotte to its first play-in tournament berth since 2022.
In his half decade with the Hornets, Ball left his mark on the franchise’s all-time charts. He ranks in the Hornets’ top 10 in points (6,304), assists (2,224), steals (427), field goals (2,222), 3-pointers (977) and free throw percentage (84.7 FT%).
Reid is one of the most popular players in Minnesota history, drawing well-wishes and an outpouring of support from state dignitaries and others upon his departure.
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Reid, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, spent the last seven seasons with the Timberwolves and turns 27 in August.
The veteran big man averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and one block per game last season.
Earlier in the week, Charlotte’s president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson addressed the offseason changes without speaking about Ball specifically since the trade had not yet been finalized.
“The goal has never been to get to the playoffs one time and be out for seven, eight years and try to get back,” Peterson said. “I think the roster that we have will give us the best chance moving forward. Again, I like all the pieces. We are going to continue to build it the right way.
”We are not going to take shortcuts. We are going to be methodical and figure out how to put the best product on the floor and fans to be happy and excited about. And at the same time, how can we continue that sustainability that we talk about?”
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