BIG MOVE IN THE NBA: Charlotte breaks up with LaMelo Ball and sends him to Minnesota in a trade that shakes the league

When it seemed like LaMelo Ball was destined to lead the resurgence of the Charlotte Hornets, the franchise has decided to take a radical turn in its project. In one of the most shocking operations of the summer in the NBA, Charlotte has traded its star and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round pick in 2033, and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, and 2033), along with several first-round pick swaps between 2028 and 2030.

The news marks the end of a period that seemed to be on the right track to solidify. Ball had shown his satisfaction in Charlotte, and the organization was also pleased with the team's growth during the past season. The Hornets went from winning just 19 games in the previous campaign to accumulating 44 victories, falling just one win short of making the playoffs' play-in for the first time since 2016.

However, the front office decided to entertain offers and found in Minnesota a partner willing to heavily invest in the 24-year-old point guard. The Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers also showed strong interest in acquiring his services in recent days.

Ball closed the season with averages of 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds, along with a 36.8% three-point shooting percentage. He played 72 regular-season games, his highest total since the 2021-22 season, although injuries continued to be a constant shadow in his career. Between the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons, he could only participate in 105 games.

Nevertheless, he was a key piece in Charlotte's spectacular turnaround. The team had an 11-23 record on January 2 but won 32 of its next 45 games, securing victories against prestigious franchises like the Knicks, Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, and Celtics. From the start of 2025 until the end of the regular season, the Hornets had the best offense and the fifth-best defense in the NBA.

Ball's departure now places the spotlight on Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Miller, the number two pick in the 2023 draft, led the team in scoring with 20.2 points per game, while Knueppel finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting after becoming the first rookie to lead the league in three-pointers made.

Ball's last great memory in a Charlotte jersey came in the play-in against the Miami Heat. The guard scored 30 points and made the game-winning basket in overtime to keep the playoff dream alive. However, that night was also marked by a controversial incident involving Bam Adebayo that resulted in a $35,000 fine. Days later, he received another financial penalty for using inappropriate language during a TV interview.

Hornets' Strategy

The adventure ended bitterly with a tough loss to the Orlando Magic in the second play-in game. That elimination turned out to be Ball's farewell from a franchise where he played six seasons, won the Rookie of the Year award, and was selected to the All-Star Game.

Minnesota will now rely on the talent of one of the most spectacular point guards in the NBA. Meanwhile, Charlotte is charting a new course, accumulating draft assets, and trusting that Miller, Knueppel, and the recent picks Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson Jr. will be the foundation of the next winning project.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, BOMBAZO EN LA NBA: Charlotte rompe con LaMelo Ball y lo envía a Minnesota en un traspaso que sacude la liga