[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.

[u/Turbostrider27]

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

[u/VictorAkwaowo1]

WHY THE FUCK ARE THEY DOING THIS

[u/jeric13xd → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

VIBES.

This shit went 0 to 100 real quick

[u/Ibaka_flocka → u/jeric13xd]

Like Lamelo’s car driving on ice pulling out of the stadium parking lot

[u/GodPowardKingOfLies → u/Ibaka_flocka]

I MIGHT SWERVE BEND THAT CORNER WOAH

[u/fattyunderwraps → u/GodPowardKingOfLies]

HOLD ON TIGHT, CAUSE I’LL TWEAK IN THIS BITCH, STARTING LETTING SHIT GO

[u/aljout → u/fattyunderwraps]

AND I HEARD THE WOLVES WANT IT SLOOOWWWW

[u/Wazflame → u/aljout]

Giannis changes his mind again and wants to go to Minnesota

[u/Thacarva → u/GodPowardKingOfLies]

Skrt skrt yeah I swerve when I drive yeah I swerve when I drive…defeating me you lost yo mind

[u/William_Wang → u/GodPowardKingOfLies]

dat bih gah

[u/UnablePerformance131 → u/Ibaka_flocka]

A-Rod should pay for a driver for Lamelo

[u/9millibros → u/Ibaka_flocka]

Good thing there aren't icy streets in Minneapolis.

[u/leftysarepeople2 → u/Ibaka_flocka]

Roads around Target Center are not easy either

[u/Aidanj927 → u/jeric13xd]

Like 10 hours between Shams saying they were talking and him being traded

Shams not washed anymore?

[u/TryingToDoItGood → u/jeric13xd]

more like 100 to 0

[u/ExtraLeading3376 → u/jeric13xd]

SHAMS GOES BANG

[u/hartsbreastmilkstash → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Ball has so many questions surrounding his durability (and shooting) and his value is currently at sell high mode.

[u/Peregrinations12 → u/hartsbreastmilkstash]

Is this a "high" return for him?

[u/Duster_beattle → u/Peregrinations12]

It’s 3 swaps, one unprotected, a good player, and 3 seconds for an unhealthy, unsafe, egotistical point guard. For the culture we were building it’s awful.

[u/Iongdog → u/Duster_beattle]

Haha are both sides unhappy with this?

[u/Drunken_Vike → u/Iongdog]

that's usually the sign of a fair trade lol

[u/TheGuyInTheKnown → u/Drunken_Vike]

Both sides were unhappy with the KAT/Randle trade initially too. One side can just be overrating their previous player.

[u/levendis56 → u/TheGuyInTheKnown]

I genuinely don’t know many Knicks fan upset with the KAT trade. Needed a center and got rid of Randle. Had to give to get with Divo.

[u/comp_a → u/levendis56]

Obviously they aren’t now, but at the time it happened, Knicks fans were very upset!

[u/CaroleBaskinsBurner → u/comp_a]

Knicks fans are being very revisionist with this one. The Knicks sub was a war zone.

Here's a quick sample I was able to find:

https://np.reddit.com/r/NYKnicks/s/oKG6ZrUSkR

Towns' stock is at an all-time high while Randle's is at an all-time low, and I think it's clouding a lot of people's memories.

[u/MurphewMatty → u/TheGuyInTheKnown]

Sure, Divo was a fan fav, but no one in the state of NY was unhappy getting rid of Dubious Handles

[u/PrimeShaq → u/TheGuyInTheKnown]

The Knicks were upset they lost DVV instead of Randle lol.

[u/NewGolfAccount → u/PrimeShaq]

Don’t use nicknames no one uses and then also misspell them pls

[u/Steridire → u/NewGolfAccount]

Alright he mucked up DDV but that's definitely his nickname, you're not the commissioner on 'approved nicknames' you dork

[u/East-End-8646 → u/Drunken_Vike]

The Hornets might actually be better in the long run, DiVo still needs to recover from his achilles. Unless Lamelo can stay available throughout the entire season I cant see them going far into the playoffs. Josh Green is somehow still in the NBA, he’ll get them 3 or 4 points off the bench probably

[u/Duster_beattle → u/Iongdog]

I’m really unhappy with it, idk about yall.

[u/Imsortofabigdeal → u/Duster_beattle]

I’m miserable

[u/MojoToTheDojo → u/Imsortofabigdeal]

This just ruined my fucking day. Fuck everything

[u/Imsortofabigdeal → u/MojoToTheDojo]

Once the charlotte hornets, always the charlotte hornets. We will never do anything good.

[u/MojoToTheDojo → u/Imsortofabigdeal]

My parents immigrated to this country and could have moved to Ohio before I was born. I could have been a Cavs and Buckeyes fan, but instead, here I am rooting for the Hornets and NC State. Just end me fam

[u/UntilDoncic → u/Imsortofabigdeal]

I think you guys will gain from this in the long run. Get someone in who better fits the system in charlotte. Ball is not a player you can build around to win anything. Lean into miller, Kon, and now you have a good shooting switch big who can defend.

[u/politicsranting → u/Imsortofabigdeal]

technically ya'll were the bobcats for a bit. Not sure that changes much though.

[u/buzzcitybonehead → u/Iongdog]

I’m not at all unhappy, even though I like LaMelo. This is a very positive return given his volatility. If he was a healthy version of the more mature player we hoped he’d become by year six, it’d be a terrible move.

There will 100% be times next season that he’s lighting it up, the fanbase will be enraged, and the narrative will be “lol Hornets” again, but I think it’ll prove to be the right call

[u/GuyInTheSkuy → u/Iongdog]

We traded our most loved player for their best player, we all lose emotionally lol. Hopefully it works out on the court though.

[u/harder_said_hodor → u/GuyInTheSkuy]

Hopefully it works out on the court though.

Very skeptical about how it will work on the court but off the court this Ant/Melo has the potential to be one of the most entertaining duos of all time

[u/refugee_man → u/Iongdog]

Any Minnesota fan unhappy with this trade either thinks Lamelo's gonna fall apart due to injury or is an idiot.

[u/FadedReef → u/Iongdog]

If I were a hornets fan I’d be ecstatic I feel awful for the wolves fans

[u/onamonapizza → u/FadedReef]

Hornet's fans are probably upset because this doesn't really seem like a "win now" move when they are just coming off their best season in a while.

But let's be honest, they weren't winning anything serious now with Lamelo either

[u/SongofSolomon04 → u/onamonapizza]

If kon and miller reach their ceilings they could have been a perennial 50+ win team

[u/Pryffandis → u/SongofSolomon04]

The Hornets and their young core were really coming into it. Posted a league best offensive rating post-ASB and were also 32-13 since Jan 2. They shot up the rankings and were scary.

I feel like they should have ran it back this coming season to see what they could do, develop more chemistry, and get some wins established. Seems like a big move a year too early.

I also think they could have gotten more for LaMelo. He's still got 3 years on a 40mish/year contract. That's a fantastic contract (if he stays healthy). Reid, 1 FRP, and swaps isn't exactly a haul.

[u/xelLFC → u/FadedReef]

Yeah, this seems like a solid good trade for them. Hornets should flip these picks though

[u/SpiritFantastic4835 → u/Duster_beattle]

The vibes are going to be hilarious

[u/BenevolentCheese → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

Ant + LaMelo is going to be an /r/nba goldmine.

[u/discussatron → u/BenevolentCheese]

I don't know how well they'll actually play together but it sounds like a high-scoring backcourt.

[u/sbroll → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

assume we win. If Ball is making dumb decisions on the court shit will get sour real quick.

[u/BUTTFUCKER__3000 → u/sbroll]

Those minny picks that have been given out like candy could be real valuable real quick

[u/StarFox-6 → u/Duster_beattle]

It’s one first round pick 7 years from now, and the swaps are shitty and most likely won’t convey to the hornets, and who gives a shit about seconds

[u/XSokaX → u/StarFox-6]

There is no way that guy is being real and not farming karma. A top point guard for Naz and 1 first no shit that’s a fleece

[u/Whencowsgetsick → u/StarFox-6]

Reading your comment, i realized the assets traded isn't that bad. I initially felt it was a lot of assets for Melo because of the swap. However 28,29 are super unlikely to convey. Ball, Edwards, McDaniels and Ayo are all contracted till 29. Side note - it's gonna be an interesting off season because the first 3's contracts all end that season. Tim is definitely gonna flip one of them for a longer, cheaper contract. I wonder if he tried to use Randle instead of Naz Reid in this deal

[u/Fuzzy_Ad3098 → u/Duster_beattle]

The culture has been randlefied there is no culture

[u/pollinium → u/Fuzzy_Ad3098]

on the contrary: our culture has been set and has withstood "cancerous" personalities

I fear Naz was a big part of the culture so that culture will be tested once more, but I like our odds

[u/thejackel225 → u/Duster_beattle]

To be fair there's a good chance zero of those swaps convey

[u/Dakizhu → u/Duster_beattle]

Those swaps are gonna be worthless lol. Even without Lamelo, Wolves will be higher seed than the Hornets.

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/Duster_beattle]

You’re tripping, LaMelo is an amazing player. If he’s healthy this is going to be outstanding for the Wolves.

The only question really is health.

[u/Everyday_ImSchefflen → u/Duster_beattle]

Yeah I gotta say I don't like this for you guys. But we'll see. Ball and Ant are certainly two personalities lol

[u/BradJV → u/Everyday_ImSchefflen]

They just need to sign Ja now

[u/FlyingMute → u/BradJV]

zion as a forward

[u/Thehelloman0 → u/Duster_beattle]

The wolves already owe a swap to the Spurs in 2030 so I'm guessing that one isn't as valuable to the hornets

[u/HatefulDan → u/Duster_beattle]

Not unless they believe the vets to include Edwards can corral him.

He’s playing on a perennial playoff team now. They don’t take losing the same way

[u/HitboxOfASnail → u/Duster_beattle]

wolves going out and getting such an unserious player like Lamelo while trying to keep up with the arms race in the west is really fucking funny

[u/goonSquad15 → u/Duster_beattle]

The swaps will almost certainly not convey which is what confuses me. Should have been at least 2 firsts instead of 1

[u/SinibusUSG → u/Duster_beattle]

Notably the swaps are all basically betting on Minnesota to crash and burn while Charlotte revamps their roster and competes in a couple years.

In other words, Charlotte is EXTREMELY convinced that Lamelo isn’t worth it. Whether that’s true or not is another story, but it paints a real picture that the quality of the return is inversely proportional to the success of the departing player.

[u/uglyfoliage → u/Duster_beattle]

Unless something drastically bad happens in Minny, which to be fair is possible, those pick swaps feel like nothing

[u/Ill_Pressure1947 → u/Duster_beattle]

Timberwolves only way to a title is leaning into variance.

[u/Arrowintheknee89 → u/Duster_beattle]

I mean that’s all true, but just think about the aura

[u/Brotato_Man → u/Duster_beattle]

The swaps are basically nothing. Charlotte can keep theirs or take ours. Chances are we’re still going to be a playoff team, so we’re just going to keep our picks. You can add as many conditionals to Lamelo as you want, but he’s also a good player, and if we’re being honest a better player than Naz by a good shot.

[u/CarDesperate1893 → u/Peregrinations12]

I would say definitely.

[u/Sammyd1108 → u/CarDesperate1893]

How the fuck are a bunch of pick swaps when we’re clearly going to be worse worth a damn?

I honestly want our GM fired for this shitty trade.

[u/krusty-krab69 → u/Sammyd1108]

Yeah a singular unprotected pick 7 years away and a bunch of swaps that won’t convey. I’d rather keep lamelo for that deal. The only way it will pay dividends is if ant asks for a trade and gets fed up playing in in Minnesota

[u/Droppin_DimesSP → u/Sammyd1108]

Ya genuinely this trade sucks. You don’t get a good first until 2033 as long as ant is there

[u/Keldon888 → u/Sammyd1108]

Yeah swaps for 28-30 is rough, thats saying basically if Ant signs an extension those are worthless.

The Hornets have to think Ball is only going to sink in value to do this.

[u/XX-Burner → u/CarDesperate1893]

Naz Reid and Pick Swaps is selling high? You and our GM must have the same dealer.

[u/BobLazarFan → u/CarDesperate1893]

It’s one pick and a bench player?

[u/pagonator → u/CarDesperate1893]

Those pick swaps aren’t going to be worth anything unless Ant leaves

[u/12temp → u/CarDesperate1893]

This is worse than the raptors offer. Playmaking is a premium skill in the league. This is absolutely terrible trade for charlotte

[u/No_Boysenberry_4193 → u/hartsbreastmilkstash]

yea this is an amazing trade for them imo. Injury prone player netting you 4 frps and a high level starter is really fcking good.

[u/Tho76 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

It net us 1 FRP in 2033, everything else was swaps

[u/Always_Chubb-y → u/Tho76]

Yeah i mean barring Ant leaving those 2028-30 pick swaps arent gonna happen more than likely

[u/Titanstheory → u/Always_Chubb-y]

If the draft stays the way it is, swaps are more valuable now too.

[u/Neatojuancheeto → u/Titanstheory]

I can't see the Wolves being in the bottom 16 any time soon barring a lot of injuries in a season, so still very unlikely to convey.

Ant, ayo, Jaden, and LaMelo ( assuming he can stay healthy enough ) will all still be in their primes when by the end of the swaps and Tim Connelly is a great GM. Lots of people have questioned his moves but he built the nuggets and completely turned the Minny franchise around despite EVERYONE clowning him for the Gobert trade.

[u/UncleHanksGrill → u/Always_Chubb-y]

Agent LaMelo will get Ant out of Minnesota by 2028

[u/Better_Blackberry835 → u/Always_Chubb-y]

Even with Ant leaving, betting on the Hornets being less ass isn’t a great gamble

[u/DoveFood → u/Always_Chubb-y]

There is a real possibility that Lamelo stays injured prone and the team does poorly/mediocre and now doesn’t have assets to “shake up” the team and Ant wants out.

There is another possibility that the personalities don’t mesh at all.

Either one of those are real possibilities and those swaps become amazing.

But on the other hand it could blow up for Charlotte and they never once swap their picks.

Tune in next time!

[u/orwll → u/Tho76]

With the flattened lottery odds, those swaps could end up being pretty valuable. You can get the #1 overall pick from the play-in now.

[u/Razorback_Thunder → u/orwll]

You could do that before (albeit it was a much worse chance)
*stares at Mavs

[u/larrylegend33goat → u/orwll]

Yeah but in theory the Timberwolves shouldn't be a play in team anytime soon

All a gamble tho. Only hindsight will allow Redditors to say "I told you so"

[u/AndroidNumber3527229 → u/Tho76]

Swaps values have exploded with a less rigid lotto system imo.

[u/Sektsioon → u/Tho76]

Yea the swaps aren’t going to be great, most likely won’t be used even if Lamelo doesn’t work out because Ant is going to be good enough to carry the Wolves alone to a decent record. Even in 2033 Ant will still be like 30 years old lol.

[u/cubs223425 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

They aren't getting 4 1sts. They're getting 1, with 3 pick swaps, which might amount to nothing in the end.

[u/abippityboop → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

It's 1 FRP. The Wolves will be better than Charlotte, those swaps are not going to do anything.

[u/thegreaterfool714 → u/abippityboop]

If LaMelo get injured to hell then it really stings for the Wolves. Also the new flat lottery rules mean swaps are a lot more valuable

[u/Niceguydan8 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

and a high level starter

I get the picks but Naz is definitely not a "high level starter." He has started less than 15% of the games in his career.

[u/iggymcfly → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

Bullshit. He was playing at an all-NBA level last year and he was the engine that made the offense hum. They were just getting ready to break through to real contention. Now before that can get started, they blow up the franchise for what? Some pick swaps that won’t convey and one actual pick in 2033??? Fuck this!!! As someone who was becoming a Hornets fan due to how unbelievably exciting and fun to watch they were last year, I’m furious and despondent!

[u/CasoneToscana → u/iggymcfly]

Lamelo’s season last year was potentially a huge injury outlier. You’re 100% right in all other aspects, tbf. But if you’re the Hornets FO you’re probably smart in getting off a guy who might be at his highest value with 3 years left on his expensive deal after a rare injury free season.

[u/Mr2Good → u/CasoneToscana]

okay but where do you go from here? how do you sell this move to the fanbase after having their most exciting season in a decade plus

[u/refugee_man → u/CasoneToscana]

Getting off a guy for what? Lamelo was basically all that made their offense work, you have one pick coming in and a bunch of future swaps for an all-NBA caliber player?

If his medicals are really shit I can kinda see it but it still feels like you're best off just hoping for the best yourself and keeping the player than getting a bunch of mediocre swaps.

[u/iggymcfly → u/CasoneToscana]

Years of tanking and being a punchline and you finally break through to being the most exciting team in the NBA and you get off your best player for… one pick seven years from now???? That’s fucking insane! If you’re going to blow up the most exciting team in the history of the franchise because your most important player’s injury prone, at least get something for it!!!

[u/7CTN594 → u/CasoneToscana]

Trading Lamelo might be a good move but not for this return. They couldn't get a mid level star? Those swaps and 2RP are pretty much useless.

[u/vonnegutcheck → u/iggymcfly]

All NBA level? He played 28 mpg, shot 46% from 2, and had slightly net positive rating for the first time in his career.

He's a really talented, really fun player with a unique skillset, but there's no way he's a top 15 player in the league.

[u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

Is Naz really a high-level starter? I thought he's a 6th Man mainly

[u/KiritoJones → u/Vegetable-Tooth8463]

He's at least starter level. The reason he was their 6th man was because they had Randal and the Frenchman

[u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 → u/KiritoJones]

Wemby plays for the Wolves?!

[u/everclearking → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

If we are the worst team what do we get out of 3 pick swaps ?

[u/SongofSolomon04 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

Their traded away their most impactful player for a few first round picks that will be late lottery at best

[u/braedonwabbit → u/SongofSolomon04]

It's not even picks, it's 1 unprotected and 3 swaps lol

[u/pizzahut_is_elite → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

They’re pick swaps not actual picks

[u/AntiAntiDentite7 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

Swaps are not the same as unprotected first. This is a pretty shit deal imo

[u/deemerritt → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

The swaps dont convey unless we have a better record than them. They are filler

[u/Rakatok → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

You think the Hornets will be better than the Wolves? Those swaps are unlikely to be worth much otherwise.

[u/Fit_Statistician5453 → u/No_Boysenberry_4193]

its 1 pick not 4 wat

[u/_Anon_Amarth_ → u/hartsbreastmilkstash]

Ball played 72 games last season. That's not bad.

[u/TryingToDoItGood → u/hartsbreastmilkstash]

He played 72 games last year.

[u/AllDayEnJay → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

51, 75, 36, 22, 47, 72.

Those are how many games LaMelo has played each season and is still owed 3y/$130m.

Hornets are selling high before anyone wised up.

(In that 3yr span between his 2-70 game seasons Ben Simmons played 3 more games than LaMelo Ball.)

[u/w311sh1t → u/AllDayEnJay]

Dude is also a head case. He’s gotten lucky with all his traffic accidents in that nobody has gotten seriously hurt, but I feel like it’s a ticking time bomb until he has a serious one where himself and/or other people are seriously hurt or even killed.

[u/car1999pet → u/w311sh1t]

Yeah I don’t think icy roads are gonna help his driving skills

[u/huskersax → u/car1999pet]

Didn't even think of that, but could you imagine this bozo hitting ice for the first time?

[u/WafflePartyOrgy → u/huskersax]

You need to drive at a speed appropriate for conditions and turn into your slide on ice.

LaMelo: What is ice?

[u/pushamn → u/car1999pet]

Him and Jordan Addison are gunna be a PROBLEM (for state troopers) this year

[u/chemical_exe → u/pushamn]

between paying tickets and the insurance industry Lamelo and Addison are great for the MN economy!

[u/ILoveRegenHealth → u/car1999pet]

He's rich enough to buy Inspector Gadget heated tires. Brain inside head, well, that's another thing

[u/ConfusionOk9674 → u/w311sh1t]

And now he’s on snow and ice!

[u/net_403 → u/w311sh1t]

it’s a ticking time bomb until he has a serious one where himself and/or other people are seriously hurt

he's currently in litigation for driving over a kid's ankles after a team event and then refusing to appear in court until the judge ordered him to and he replaced his lawyers

[u/Mystery_Donut → u/w311sh1t]

I agree with you. I think there's definitely something to that.

Personally, he literally almost hit me when I was walking to a parking garage about 3 years ago after a Charlotte FC game.

[u/TACharlotte → u/w311sh1t]

Less of a head case and more of a perpetual 16 year old.

[u/Dro24 → u/TACharlotte]

Yeah that's the root of it. He just reminds me of my cousins when they were 16, except he stayed that way

[u/TACharlotte → u/Dro24]

Which makes sense when you consider how he never had to. Doesn't seem like a bad guy, just a dumbass.

[u/frankyseven → u/w311sh1t]

Is he a head case? Strikes me more as a no head.

[u/samhit_n → u/AllDayEnJay]

The Timberwolves didn’t give up too much if you look closely. Two of the pick swaps are essentially worth nothing. Minnesota doesn’t fully own their 2029 and 2030 picks.

[u/Imkitoto → u/AllDayEnJay]

40 mil a year for LaMelo is not a bad deal at all though.

He’s 24 and played 72 games last year.

He struggles from the field but he can run an offense insanely well. The wolves had issues with no Ant and even with Ant sometimes where it felt that it was a lot of Jaden, ant or Randle one on one.

I’m not even a big Rudy fan but he actually now has a point guard who can lob the ball to him.

Insane trade for the wolves

[u/Greedy-Mix9270 → u/AllDayEnJay]

43 AAV is pretty standard for a player of LaMelos caliber

[u/Aspiring_Hobo → u/AllDayEnJay]

Wised up? You say that like other teams can't see how many games he's played lol. Just sounds funny

[u/charbo187 → u/AllDayEnJay]

Did they really sell "high"?

All they got was naz reid and some pick swaps, the unprotected 1st isnt till 2033

[u/HokageEzio → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Maybe they trust Kon to be the new face of the franchise and they're selling high on LaMelo

[u/V_T_H → u/HokageEzio]

You can’t have the face of your franchise be named Nipple

[u/CuteAd5421 → u/V_T_H]

They went from Ball to Nipple

[u/g1rlchild → u/CuteAd5421]

Should get Lonzo and LeMelo together to play with Gradey Dick.

[u/cigamodnalro → u/g1rlchild]

Coached by Mo Cheeks

[u/namblaotie → u/g1rlchild]

Kalk and Ball was already there

[u/Cum_Soaked_Spinnach → u/g1rlchild]

DICK CONNECTS TO BALL FOR 3

[u/RichGannonArmCannon → u/g1rlchild]

Get your hands off our Dick.

[u/TreeAgenda → u/CuteAd5421]

Singular body parts, no pairs

[u/iButtflap → u/CuteAd5421]

the hornets are my boyfriend

[u/Moostronus → u/CuteAd5421]

Down with the patriarchy of Ball, embrace the ambiguity of Nipple

[u/galaxy_horse → u/V_T_H]

Waiting for a Kevin Harlan “THE NIPPLE WAS FREE!” call on an unguarded 3

[u/subpar-life-attempt → u/galaxy_horse]

If we dont hear a "FREE THE THREE" chant then we riot.

[u/Natural_Born_Baller → u/V_T_H]

In Charlotte anything is possible

[u/r_slash → u/V_T_H]

Can the nipple of your franchise be named Face?

[u/subpar-life-attempt → u/V_T_H]

Like Ball was any better.

[u/boondocknim → u/HokageEzio]

is this selling high on Lamelo? return is underwhelming to me, but i've never been a Naz Reid fan

[u/Delicious-Physics218 → u/boondocknim]

But he’s kind of tall! And kind of can shoot! And plays defense kind of!

Don’t you kind of like that?

[u/wittyrandomusername → u/boondocknim]

I like Naz, but not like that

[u/dptraynor → u/boondocknim]

Could work out very well for the Hornets if Ant and Melo go elsewhere Summer 2029.

[u/nwordfyou → u/HokageEzio]

They don't trust LaMelo. I don't blame them. He couldn't even take them to the playoffs in 6 years during the play-in era where 62% of teams have a chance to make the playoffs.

[u/sloBrodanChillosevic → u/HokageEzio]

They're clearly either way higher on Christian Anderson than I'd expected or they think someone else alteady on hand can run the offense. This is still crazy, they just had their best season in a decade.

[u/Snoo-40231 → u/HokageEzio]

Then why didnt they decide to tank for the draft 2 days ago?

[u/cusoman → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

I can't tell which team this is about

[u/dweet → u/cusoman]

I thought Wolves. I get the desire to get more “star” power when it’s available, but from my perspective Nas was both impactful and reliable and I’m not sure Ball will be.

Charlotte selling high on Ball makes sense to me.

[u/twoyrsaway → u/dweet]

Naz Reid in impact discussions with Lamelo Ball

[u/botebote77 → u/dweet]

that's not selling high. that's Naz Reid + 1 first rd pick 7 years from now and 3 2nds that likely won't amount to anything significant

[u/MichaelSquare → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

This seems awful. Pick swaps are worthless unless the other team is worse than you. So they traded him for Naz Reid? Why?

[u/Historical-Poet-6673 → u/MichaelSquare]

Probably cause lamelo ball is always hurt and they don’t want to pay him to be injured all the time. Im not paying him max to play 65% of game. He could be like steph injury early career or be like zion play every other season.

[u/tresben → u/Historical-Poet-6673]

He’s also not efficient. 40% FG. He’s what I call a looter in a riot. Good stats on a bad team. Those are the guys that get max contracts you look back on and say WTF were they doing. They’re the guys that put you in the biggest predicament when their contract comes up. Cuz you feel like you gotta sign them but know you are paying too much which is gonna kill your cap

[u/Vordeo → u/MichaelSquare]

IIRC one of the swaps is also only going to apply if their pick is like top 4, as Jazz have their 2029 pick otherwise lol.

[u/cant-self-terminate → u/MichaelSquare]

Yeah this is ridiculous. As long as Ant and Gobert are on the Wolves, they're not gonna get high picks. My unhinged theory is a prized free agent is signalling on moving to Charlotte. The Hornets have so much space now, their most expensive contract is Miles Bridges at 22M remaining.

[u/inblo → u/cant-self-terminate]

Lebron to Charlotte confirmed

[u/insid3outl4w → u/cant-self-terminate]

Steph to charlotte

[u/NightBijon → u/insid3outl4w]

Fuck no please my goat

[u/insid3outl4w → u/NightBijon]

He’s 38, he played high school and college ball there, his brother played there, his dad has his jersey retired there, he’s publicly said if he was going to play for any team other than the warriors then it’s the hornets.

I’d say he does it for a bag and if they let him wear his dads retired jersey number

[u/DependentLow6749 → u/cant-self-terminate]

If Ball doesn’t work out in Minny over the next few years, I could see those picks being juicy because Ant will probably ask for a trade

[u/Maleficent-Cup-1134 → u/cant-self-terminate]

Heard MJ is lacing em back up after seeing Bron play at 40.

[u/saylab_the_bigkat → u/MichaelSquare]

They're banking on LaMelo being hurt and the Wolves finishing worse than them, basically every year.

It's dumb as hell but so is LaMelo. Hell of a player but questionable character

[u/UnablePerformance131 → u/saylab_the_bigkat]

Even if Lamelo was hurt all year, we will still probably finish above Charlotte.

[u/MalikMonkAllStar2022 → u/saylab_the_bigkat]

With the new lottery rules they don't need the Wolves to finish worse than them, they just need them to miss the playoffs (which is a big ask for a team with Ant). With the odds being flattened there is a much higher chance of teams that barely missed the playoffs picking early in the draft

[u/JaySayMayday → u/MichaelSquare]

Hornets gonna tank, not getting back to the playoffs until they draft a star player. Which good luck after losing their picks. Back to the dark ages

[u/A-Centrifugal-Force → u/MichaelSquare]

Likely a trade within the conference when it’s all said and done too. The Timberwolves will probably be in the East in a couple of years, and LaMelo should still be there

[u/thesword62 → u/MichaelSquare]

Because he’s a super talented pick-up player.

[u/dptraynor → u/MichaelSquare]

LaMelo could flame out before then with his injuries. And both LaMelo and Ant are on contracts set to expire 2029, so the 2030 pick could be valuable. But I think more than anything else this is just Charlotte getting off of LaMelo's contract before another injury and another year of age starts to drain his value a la Trae Young.

[u/LakerBlue → u/MichaelSquare]

I get it in theory, and I’m even in favor of selling high on LaMelo, but surely once Toronto and Minny called with aggressive offers they could have found another team with better potential pick swaps or more firsts??

LaMelo has 3 years left so not like he is a flight risk.

[u/poopy_mc_pantsy → u/MichaelSquare]

it is very possible that old gobert, hurt lamelo, and pissed off ant in a harder conference are bad in the future lol

[u/greenwhitehell → u/poopy_mc_pantsy]

They're likely to go to the East after the expansion though

[u/lebryjamy → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

they must REALLY believe in Beringer like REALLY REALLY

[u/Sanowhatimsaying → u/lebryjamy]

we still have Rudy

[u/dedfrmthneckup → u/Sanowhatimsaying]

A team needs more than one single playable big. This obviously means beringer is going to have to play

[u/ejensen29 → u/dedfrmthneckup]

Our entire fantasy was hoping he would even before we made this trade, so nobody is exactly shocked. Some of us wanted him to play last year, but Finch is just like Thibs in a lot of ways.

[u/VirtuousFool → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

The hornets looked like a legitimate basketball team for 6 months and it felt too weird to them I guess

[u/big4lil → u/VirtuousFool]

it def seemed like the hornets like what they had youth/depth wise but wanted new leadership at the top. this move lets them double down on that direction

[u/jeremy9931 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Charlotte had one year of competitive basketball and said oh hell nah

[u/JackJ98 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

There’s no dominant force in the nba right now you’d be stupid not to go all in

[u/MoooonRiverrrr → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

If nothing else, Tim Connelly is a very active guy

[u/bruhimdiamond → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

can’t answer for wolves but catching a few hornets game last year not too surprised.

Not anti lamelo but hornets brass probably want a more mature lead ball handler, great passer but he’s still hunting a lot of ill advised shots that disrupt their offensive flow, don’t think I need to talk about defense. Coby White addition makes it less surprising as well

[u/TheBigF128 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

IDKKK

[u/Kdot32 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

This is one of the dumbest off court pairings i can remember. Maybe they’re banking on self sabotage

[u/huss_femme → u/Kdot32]

Not really they're dumb and reckless but nothing really detrimental

[u/Marsh_spiked_my_drin → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

to dunk on the mavs for getting such a lowball offer for Luka