The Julius Randle trade was clearly setting the Timberwolves up for a big swing. Tim Connelly, a man unafraid of going all in, has tried to clear the fences with a blockbuster trade for LaMelo Ball.
On Wednesday, it became apparent that the Hornets were looking to move on from Ball. Minnesota shifted Randle's salary to give itself flexibility in the trade market. As a result, the Timberwolves now have a legitimate playmaker to pair with Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels.
Full trade details:
Minnesota receives: LaMelo Ball and Josh Green
Charlotte receives: Naz Reid, 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, three second-round picks
Minnesota's Big Move
Connelly pushed all his chips in for Gobert. Then he swapped Karl-Anthony Towns for Randle. Now he has paired the first and third overall picks in the 2020 draft, giving Edwards a legitimate secondary scorer and one of the league's best passers.
Minnesota had reportedly been in the running for Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Connelly had long been in the market for a co-star alongside Edwards. He hasn't landed a top 10 player this time, but he has found an All-Star on the same timeline whose weaknesses are well covered by the defensive talent on the rest of the roster.
When healthy, Edwards, Ball, Gobert, McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Dosunmu form a six-man core right up there with the NBA's best. Injuries made the Timberwolves a tricky team to evaluate in the playoffs, but Connelly hasn't treated that as a reason to sit still. He has once again been aggressive and elevated Minnesota considerably, even if the team still sits a notch behind the Thunder and Spurs.
Reid Fits Charlotte Need
Charlotte didn't fall in love with its surge in 2025-26. Rumors of a LaMelo trade have popped up frequently over the years, and the Hornets' front office clearly wasn't convinced about Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller as a long-term trio.
In LaMelo's place, the Hornets make a much-needed move in the frontcourt. Reid had been underutilized as a backup in Minnesota and will now get a chance to start at the five, with his shooting likely to add another dimension to an already dynamic offense.
The Hornets resisted short-termism. Instead, they opted to stock up on the Timberwolves' draft assets for years to come, with real upside at the start of the next decade, when there is no guarantee Edwards or Ball will still be in Minnesota.
Diverging Paths
Minnesota has made a bet. It's a bet on Edwards and Ball meshing. It's also a bet on Ball's questionable health.
Charlotte has played the long game instead. Patience is now needed from a fan base that got a brief and overdue taste of success last season.
Edwards and Ball might be the most watchable duo in the NBA next season, a pairing that promises to be scintillating, and one with real functionality thanks to Gobert, Dosunmu, and McDaniels surrounding them.
The Hornets are looking toward 2028 and beyond rather than chasing another leap in 2027. Knueppel's sophomore season and the rookie years of Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson will offer a much better read on how this trade should ultimately be judged.
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