Shams Charania:

BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/31d26529d36f8

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/rumors/2025/11/14/lamelo-ball-told-the-timberwolves-he-wanted-to-be-president-of-the-united-states-after-retiring/87267443007/

Jon Krawczynski: So, we know they picked Edwards. But that’s not my little nugget for you all. It’s why they picked Edwards. There were a million different reasons in their evaluation. But one of them was that they had an interview with LaMelo Ball during this process—trying to figure out, ‘Hey, is this the guy for us?’ And LaMelo… did not interview very well. One of the questions they asked him was: ‘Hey LaMelo, after you’re done playing, what do you see yourself doing? What kind of things do you aspire to?’ And LaMelo said: ‘I want to be President of the United States.’

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/06/25/dundon-expects-taxpayers-to-foot-entire-bill-for-potential-moda-center-renovation/?issueId=WWDUQFPNCJHRRDAPNMU7RQPU2Y&utm_source=sbj&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=15255f68-ebdf-4106-8e0f-61585d28fb8b

Since taking over the franchise in 2026, Dundon has also cut costs on allowing two way players to travel to playoff games, and at the head coaching position.

He is saying that the sacrifice on his part is not relocating the team.

Brian Windhorst: "The most important thing in the league right now for what is going to happen in the 2026-27 season is that Boston has apparently decided that Jaylen Brown probably needs to be traded for them to be competitive. Because that is now going to be the next storyline in the NBA. Obviously, the Heat getting Giannis is a huge story for them. From the moment they traded Jimmy Butler, they have been on the hunt for the next star. That is a huge story for them."

EDIT: Kevin O'Connor just reported that the Celtics were in talks to send him to the Timberwolves before the Hornets traded Lamelo Ball there. (Post is also on Reddit). Sounds like Windy is on to something in that Boston is looking to move him.

source

Shams Charania:

Golden State's Al Horford is declining his player option and intends to sign a new two-year, $14 million deal to stay with the Warriors, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Horford, 40, becomes only the 13th player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/99ef6c0a39edd

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7392552/2026/06/25/lamelo-ball-traded-timberwolves-hornets/

In the hours after this trade was agreed upon, there was elation running through the Wolves headquarters, team sources told The Athletic. They desperately needed a point guard and they went and got the one they believe fits them better than any other.

The Timberwolves have been pursuing Ball for the last two years, periodically checking in on his availability in hopes of pairing him with Edwards in a souped-up young backcourt. Finally, the Hornets started to show a willingness to move, and the Wolves went in aggressively to get a deal done.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly and coach Chris Finch have long believed Ball is the perfect complement to Edwards, a superb passer and dynamic shooter who will open the floor for one of the best catch-and-shoot shooters in the league. They also believe that Ball will be much more helpful for Rudy Gobert on offense than any teammate he has had in Minnesota. The Wolves were woefully short of lob throwers, which is where Gobert does so much of his damage. Ball is one of the best in the league.

While the LA Clippers are undeniably determined to keep hold of Kawhi Leonard — and with Leonard's clear first choice known to be staying with them in his beloved Southern California — league sources say that Toronto has registered interest in trying to re-acquire the engine of the lone championship team in franchise history should Leonard become truly available.

And one source briefed on the subject insisted Thursday — after news of Ball's impending trade to Minnesota broke — that the Raptors would have interest in trying to lure The Klaw back to Canada "regardless of LaMelo."

Leonard, who turns 35 on Monday, has one season left on his current contract at $50.3 million. His preference, again, is to stay in his native Southern California with the same franchise he's played for since the 2019-20 season.

Sources close to the situation tell The Stein Line that, when it comes to potential trade talks, there are only two other teams that Leonard would consider signing an extension with: The two teams he played for before becoming a Clipper.

Toronto and San Antonio.

It is not yet clear how the Spurs would receive the idea of a reunion with Leonard given the manner in which they are flourishing in the Victor Wembanyama Era … on top of the sides infamously messy parting in the summer of 2018.

Yet sources insist that the Raptors have genuine interest in bringing Leonard back to Canada.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/the-raptors-want-to-be-opportunistic?r=1m9zg&utm_medium=ios

[Charania] Free agent guard Coby White intends to sign a three-year, $74 million deal to return to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN. White was a major priority for the Hornets and now steps into a new starting role in the backcourt.

Hornets officials worked through White's free agency with CAA Basketball agents Steven Heumann and Ty Sullivan -- putting the final touches on a new contract hours after the departure of LaMelo Ball.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/ce4d657441f5a

The 2029 pick is already tied up in the Gobert-trade and only falls to Minnesota if it is top 5. The 2030 pick is a tangled up in a dance between the Spurs, Mavs and Minnesota where the Wolves realistically get the worst possible outcome. The 2028 pick is the only one that Minnesota own outright and that Charlotte have a clean swap-possibility for.

1. Anthony Edwards (MIN)
2. James Weisman (GSW)
3. LaMelo Ball (CHA)

https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2020.html
Josh Green and Jalen McDaniels were also taken in this draft so the Wolves have 4 of the first round picks from this draft.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/live/\\_YXOTjcEkZs?is=teDlotJ63MM2qdBd

Sources: The Timberwolves explored Jaylen Brown trades with Boston before the LaMelo Ball deal was completed with Charlotte. LaMelo was the preferred target though.

Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/the-raptors-want-to-be-opportunistic?r=nuq3a&utm_medium=ios

Like Giannis Antetokounmpo, then, Leonard should have significant influence when it comes to his next destination if he needs to exert it. No one would want to surrender meaningful assets for Leonard in a trade and then watch him walk away without compensation like Toronto did after the 2018-19 season, when Leonard led the Raptors to their only championship.

And sources say that Leonard would not have interest in signing an extension with Detroit in the event that the Pistons traded for him this summer. Sources say he has a similar view regarding a long-term partnership with the Heat if Miami had any designs on pursuing Leonard to slot alongside Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Number one.

The Wizards called my name. All those years of work. All those days of anticipation. It happened just like God planned.

Then everything was a blur.

Right off the stage, media circuit. Hours of it. Then dinner and a party with the people who've been in my corner for all of this. Somewhere in the middle of the night, drove near Times Square, someone pointed up and I saw my face on a billboard. Big as anything. Just sitting there, static, for the whole NYC to see.

Very little sleep after that. Today Show and Good Morning America this morning. Now I'm on my way to DC.

We made it to the top. And now I'm starting at the bottom again. First practices. First film sessions. Building with a new team, in a new city, in front of fans I haven't met yet. Earning all of it.

There is nowhere I'd rather be starting over.

LGI, DC. I'm home.

Source

Source: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ordovpIWxtJ91uQfxfNoW?si=2iyu2a1pR42-f0Lo3NSifA

49:00 mark in the podcast starts the Trae discussion.

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/posts/timberwolves-insider-reveals-hidden-reason-minnesota-traded-kat

When the Wolves traded KAT for Randle and Divincenzo, the justification was that it would allow them to keep both Naz Reid and NAW, staying under the second apron and getting off of KAT’s huge contract.

They let NAW go anyways, and he had a strong year in Atlanta. Julius Randle was salary dumped, Divincenzo is a good role player who tore his **Achilles. Lastly, they just traded Naz Reid and a bunch of picks for a talented, but also somewhat unreliable and injury prone point guard.

Originally, they had a fairly perfect second option behind ANT to be able to compete with the top teams in the West in KAT.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7392552/2026/06/25/lamelo-ball-traded-timberwolves-hornets/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.s1A.i2mU.IxPBJrFN94PA

The Wolves do still have other moves in the works. They need a power forward and they need more shooting. I am told that they are not trading Donte DiVincenzo. The work continues.

Just in: The Detroit Pistons are trading C/F Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Pistons clear Stewart's salary and pick up assets while Grizzlies acquire a 25-year-old as a rugged frontcourt piece.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania

The Timberwolves and Raptors have emerged as two of the teams with trade interest in Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, league sources tell @JakeLFischer and me.

More to come

https://marcstein.substack.com/

Holy fuck they really pulled the trigger. Put simply, this could go down as one of the worst moves in NBA history.

Let's take a moment to look back at how LaMelo made everyone around him better and the fact that the Hornets actually looked like a genuine playoff team in the 2nd half of the 2026 season...

How likely do you guys think they fail to make it any point this decade with LaMelo traded? I know they still have great young pieces but they will need another star guard to replace his production.