The Charlotte Hornets have made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, trading former All-Star LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that has sparked strong reactions from fans across the Carolinas.
Many Hornets supporters quickly criticized the move online, calling it one of the franchise’s biggest mistakes in years. Others believe the trade gives Charlotte a chance to accelerate its rebuild with additional draft capital.
The Hornets traded Ball and reserve guard Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for forward Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033.
The grades from the Wolves-Hornets trade are in 👀@zachkram shares his thoughts on this morning’s deal as well as all the other trades so far: https://t.co/bDu6ZHE6Cx pic.twitter.com/kRNp4zV02o
— ESPN (@espn) June 25, 2026
Ball leaves Charlotte after six NBA seasons that included an NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2021 and an All-Star selection in 2022. He averaged more than 20 points per game in each of the past five seasons and played 72 games last year, one of the healthiest and most productive seasons of his career.
Selected third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lamelo Ball quickly became the face of the Hornets franchise. His flashy passing, deep shooting range, and high-profile family brought international attention to Charlotte and helped make him one of the league’s most recognizable young stars.
For Minnesota, the move creates a dynamic backcourt featuring Ball alongside All-Star Anthony Edwards. Reports indicated the Timberwolves were searching for another elite playmaker to strengthen their roster after concerns about keeping Edwards surrounded with championship-caliber talent.
Charlotte, meanwhile, adds one of the NBA’s top reserve forwards in Naz Reid while significantly increasing its future draft assets. The collection of picks and swaps gives the Hornets additional flexibility as they continue building for the future.
Whether the trade ultimately becomes a turning point or a missed opportunity will depend on how Charlotte develops its new assets and how Ball performs in Minnesota. For now, one thing is certain: the Hornets have moved on from the player who defined the franchise for much of the past six seasons, marking the beginning of a new era in Charlotte basketball.
