The Timberwolves just made their boldest move of the offseason. They reached a reported agreement to acquire LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033.
The deal comes after Minnesota’s 2026 Western Conference semifinals exit against San Antonio, a series that again exposed how much Edwards had to create by himself. This is not a minor roster adjustment. It is a franchise-defining bet that Ball can become the high-usage co-star Edwards has needed.
Minnesota added a dynamic playmaker who can bend defenses, speed up the offense and keep Edwards from forcing late-clock possessions. The bigger question is whether the Wolves gave up too much frontcourt stability and too much future flexibility to make it happen.
Minnesota Bought Relief For Edwards
Chris Finch’s offense has forced Edwards to carry the full scoring and playmaking burden for long stretches. Ball changes that math right away.
Edwards is at his best attacking tilted defenses. He should not be forced to create from a standing start late in the shot clock. Last season, Edwards shot 69 of 139 on catch-and-shoot three-pointers, a 49.6% mark that ranked first among 308 players with at least 75 such attempts. Yet 61.3% of his three-point attempts were still self-created.
That is where Ball matters. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 72 games for Charlotte. Ball also ranked second in the NBA with 272 made three-pointers on 36.8% shooting from deep. His value is not only passing flair. He gives Minnesota a guard who can advance the ball early, hit Edwards on the move and force defenses to guard two creators at once.
“We have to ensure that we’re creating as many good shots as possible, specifically for Ant, and whether that’s on our present roster or whether it’s looking outside of our team, it’s something that we certainly have to address,” Timberwolves president Tim Connelly said after the first round of the draft.
Minnesota answered that problem with the loudest possible move.
The Price Leaves Very Little Margin
This was not just another future pick. After the Rudy Gobert trade already stripped away major parts of Minnesota’s draft future, the 2033 first-round pick and late-decade swaps were among the cleanest remaining assets the front office could still move.
That is why this deal feels so final. Minnesota’s front office is no longer treating the Edwards era like a long runway. It is acting like the window is open now, and that means paying for help before Edwards’ prime seasons get wasted in overloaded possessions.
Reid is the real basketball cost. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season. In Minnesota’s sixth game against San Antonio, he logged 18 points on seven of 13 shooting, including three of seven from three-point range, in 32 minutes. That was not empty production. Reid gave the Wolves size, spacing, scoring punch and lineup flexibility behind Rudy Gobert.
Now Gobert carries more responsibility up front. Minnesota moved Julius Randle earlier in the week, then sent Reid out in this deal. That leaves the Wolves thinner in the frontcourt and more dependent on smaller lineups, wing defense and whatever roster work follows.
Charlotte Smashed The Reset Button
Charlotte’s front office clearly did not factor sentimentality into this deal. It looked at a stalled rebuild, ignored Ball’s star power and chose Reid plus future control.
The timing is what makes the move jarring. The Hornets were not lifeless last season. They improved from 19 wins in 2024 to 2025 to 44 wins in 2025 to 2026 and reached the Play-In Tournament. Since Jan. 1, Charlotte led the league in rebounding percentage, second-chance points and made three-pointers per game. Its lineup with Ball, Brandon Miller, recent draft pick Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté posted a massive 26.4 net rating across 509 minutes.
That is why the frustration around Charlotte landed so sharply in the comments under Shams Charania’s Instagram report. One fan response captured the mood cleanly: “Why would you trade your star player when after so many years things are finally starting to click?”
Charlotte did not trade Ball because the team had nothing. It traded him because the front office decided the next version of the roster needed a different foundation. Reid gives the Hornets an immediate frontcourt anchor. He scores, spaces the floor and fits multiple lineup shapes. The picks give Charlotte future paths, either through the draft or another major trade.
Ball Must Trade Flash For Winning Habits
Trading for Ball is not just an Xs and Os gamble. It is a massive bet that the point guard is ready to leave behind some of his freewheeling Charlotte habits for winning basketball.
The talent is obvious. Ball sees passes early, stretches the floor and creates tempo without needing a scripted action. Pairing him with Edwards gives Minnesota a rare mix of speed, shot creation and confidence. The same comment section also showed why the move will draw immediate attention, with one reaction calling the Edwards and Ball pairing “peak entertainment.”
But highlights do not hang banners, and Finch’s coaching staff now faces the headache of building a defensive scheme around a guard who can lose focus off the ball. Edwards also has to adjust. He will get easier looks, but he must still control the team when the game slows down.
Minnesota made this move because it needed more than another solid rotation player. It needed a player who could change the way defenses load up on Edwards. Ball can do that.
The trade gives the Timberwolves a higher ceiling, but it also removes excuses. They spent Reid. They spent picks. They took on risk. Now the Edwards era has a true co-star, and Minnesota has to prove that the gamble was worth the bill.
Also Read: Timberwolves Go All In On LaMelo Ball To Answer Anthony Edwards
FAQs
Q. What did the Timberwolves give up for LaMelo Ball?
Minnesota reportedly gave up Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round swaps and three second-round picks.
Q. Why did the Timberwolves trade for LaMelo Ball?
The Wolves needed another creator next to Anthony Edwards. Ball gives them passing, shooting and late-clock offense.
Q. How does LaMelo Ball fit with Anthony Edwards?
Ball can create easier shots for Edwards. That lets Edwards attack off the catch and avoid forcing every possession.
Q. Why is Naz Reid important in this trade?
Reid gave Minnesota size, spacing and bench scoring. His exit leaves the Wolves with a thinner frontcourt.
Q. What does this trade mean for the Hornets?
Charlotte moves into a new roster phase. The Hornets add Reid, future picks and more flexibility around their young core.
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