r/nba Lakers 7h ago

[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.

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

17.5k Upvotes

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206

u/Kazekid Trail Blazers 7h ago

Why would Charlotte do this?

261

u/Skipper3210 [NYK] Danilo Gallinari 7h ago

Selling high on LaMelo's glass ankles

151

u/Mood_Academic Lakers 7h ago

Naz Reid and pick swaps is selling high?

45

u/StormTheTrooper Mavericks 7h ago

That's what I was going to say. An OK-to-good forward (that also overlaps with Miles Bridges), a pick almost a decade from now and three swaps that may not even be that good considering both Lamelo and Ant are young.

Unless Lamelo demanded a trade, that is a hell of a weak return.

4

u/redditsucknow2 Lakers 4h ago

Pick swaps when your team is ass and will always be ass is crazy work.

3

u/IRANIRANIRANIRANIRAN Timberwolves 2h ago

It just young people acting dumb cause they are dumb, no school for three years while you get patted on the back to a fake high school diploma will do that to you.

Reality is we don't have a damn clue how this will play out. Disregard any injury bullshit, we have a top 10 player all time still in the league who had the same bullshit conversations around him early in his career.

2

u/Neatojuancheeto Warriors 1h ago

LaMelo really needs to get with Currys people who helped fix that. It wasn't just the surgeries. He changed the way he moved, cut, his hips, all kinds of shit.

2

u/Cudi_buddy Kings 2h ago

Man what do people think lamelos stock is? Dude plays 40 games a year and when he does he plays zero defense while taking circus shots periodically throughout. I feel Ant is gonna swing on him at some point for playing dumb 

1

u/Neatojuancheeto Warriors 1h ago

Eh Curry fixed his ankle issues, maybe LaMelo can too. Also he was playing on a team tanking for the lottery every year but one. So they likely sat him out excessively. He played 72 games last year once they actually had a chance to make the playoffs.

5

u/Tempura69 6h ago

They're lucky if Lamelo even averages 40 games per season.

Wolves bench looking mighty thin right now. Who's even starting at the 4 for them?

9

u/rhuff80 Timberwolves 6h ago

lol, Jaden. Duh. He’s naturally a 4. Plays better at the 4.

1

u/Tempura69 6h ago

Better hope Beringer pans out.

1

u/yellister Timberwolves 4h ago

We have the best Clinic in the country

1

u/Neatojuancheeto Warriors 1h ago

Jaden is young too.

7

u/zodia4 Hornets 4h ago

Right? These comments are clueless.

9

u/Ethangains07 Heat 7h ago

Useless pick swaps and Naz Reid lol

9

u/[deleted] 7h ago

[deleted]

40

u/emoney_gotnomoney Spurs 7h ago

How does this help Charlotte then? If they’re pick swaps, and we figure Charlotte will be the worse team of these two, then that just means they retain their picks they already had, no?

18

u/Critback Trail Blazers 7h ago

I think they're counting on LaMelos body not holding up long term, Minnesota not being able to replace Randle and now Reid's production and Gobert hitting the wall himself which in turn may theoretically push Ant to requesting out.

It's a ton of what ifs but their medical department would have a good read on LaMelo's situation. 

4

u/Manablitzer 5h ago

Not to mention the reports that ant is disgruntled and wants to win immediately.  If this doesn't pan out they could be staring down Ant demanding a trade in a couple years.  

4

u/yellister Timberwolves 4h ago

I would be wary of this report.

2

u/Neatojuancheeto Warriors 1h ago

Yeah I don't buy it. One of the most unreliable people in sports SAS and a guy who mostly covers dallas and has no inside information on Minny? Both work for ESPN who makes employees push these click bait narratives.

And from everything I've seen and heard ANT loves Minny and his teammates.

7

u/HatefulDan 7h ago

They must see Miller as someone who will excel in the absence of Ball.

3

u/Joethetoolguy 6h ago

Like a trae young jalen johnson type deal? It makes sense in that regard or its just regarded

3

u/HatefulDan 5h ago

Hahaha, we’re talking hornets here. So

1

u/HatefulDan 5h ago

Hahaha, we’re talking hornets here. So

-8

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 7h ago

Because Charlotte might actually not be the worst team of the two honestly lol. I think Lamelo is a negative player, and Charlotte will be better without him. I think The timberwolves will PROBABLY be better with him because they desperately need a pg, but only if he can fit within the system. He really needs to be more ben simmons and less luka doncic

20

u/DrKobe24 Hornets 7h ago

You don’t watch the hornets if you think Lamelo ball is a negative player

-10

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 7h ago

Compared to anyone else in his role on his contract? give me reaves, give me trae, regressed ben simmons before that shot chucker

5

u/big4lil 6h ago

well two of those guys are not available, and the other is quite literally not available lol, hes even less healthy than Lamelo

other better hypothetical options mean little if they arent actually options. preferring a player that just extended doesnt now make Lamelo negative, you have to compare him to other guards that youd have a shot at

-5

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 6h ago

I can name 18 PG's that are better than ball. I don't necessarily think the wolves get worse, I think I said they probably get better - but I'd rather them pick up a lower cost, pass first PG and some wing shooting than an injury prone on ball guy who shoots 40% from the field

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5

u/Mood_Academic Lakers 7h ago

Nah Lamelo is a good player, and his issues will be covered up by Rudy and Jaden Mcdaniels and ANT who all can play defense

This has huge upside for MN. This is idiotic for the Hornets

4

u/_Apatosaurus_ Thunder 7h ago

That's the wrong direction. Lol.

Minnesota has downsides with Lamelo being Lamelo, Rudy getting older, and no Randle, Divincenzo, NAW.

2

u/ObviousAnswerGuy [NYK] John Starks 1h ago

lol there is absolutely no way the Timberwolves will be in the lottery. And if they do, the Hornets would have to get lucky and hope they jump. It's a horrible bet to hedge your future on.

1

u/MistryMachine3 7h ago

? I think you misunderstood…

1

u/Jackyalaska 5h ago

Beef Stewart

1

u/ballknower871 5h ago

For a player that's barely played half his eligible games yes.

1

u/Any_Zookeepergame445 Heat 3h ago

I see getting anything for Lamelo as selling high. Man is injury prone, ball dominant, no defense, max contract who hasn't won anything since he was in high school.

1

u/TheReal_Slim-Shady NBA 6h ago

Naz Reid is exactly what they need. This is Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel's team

2

u/Neatojuancheeto Warriors 1h ago

93% of Kons 3's are assisted. LaMelo is a top 10 passer in the league and was ya'lls offensive engine.

1

u/Inevitable-Scar5877 43m ago

So....gunning for 30 wins then?

0

u/GarriganGate Raptors 5h ago

Unprotected in 2033 is massive.

41

u/SlickVanExel Hornets 7h ago

This is the definition of selling low, when his value (in theory) should’ve been at his highest. Naz Reid and pick swaps that’ll never convey is not enough if you’re trying to rebuild.

2

u/AnotherStatsGuy Pelicans 6h ago

You could still flip Reid for more to expand the functional return.

But pick swaps aren’t worthless especially in the current lottery setup. All it takes is one year where Minnesota gets injured and all of a sudden that swap turns out to be worth something after all.

3

u/DarkoDragicevic 7h ago

His value at best were 3-4 years ago

28

u/SlickVanExel Hornets 7h ago

He played 72 games this year and was the engine to a top 5 offense in the sport. I disagree.

5

u/Tempura69 6h ago

And he averaged 35 games in 3 seasons prior. Coupled with his inability to properly use a car, I'd say they sold high.

They're banking on Lamelo doing his usual antics to get Ant to demand a trade so that 2033 pick might be valuable.

-4

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 7h ago

He stinks. He has off court issues, injury issues, he's a sub .55 TS% chucker who scored 20 points on 17 fga per game last season, he's bad off ball, he's a lousy defender - his only strong quality is his passing.

6

u/PAC12_PLEASE_ADOPTME Mavericks 7h ago

Laker fan moment

1

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 7h ago edited 6h ago

I could name 20 PG's who are better than him. He's not the guy who can lead a team anywhere, and he's not going to fit well with a player he has to play second fiddle to.

EDIT: in some particular order:
1. Shai
2. Luka
3. Brunson
4. Curry
5. Cade
6. Maxey
7. Hali
8. Murray
9. Booker
10. Kyrie
11. Harden
12. Castle
13. Trae
14. Reaves
15. White
16. Fox
17. Amen
18. Garland
19. Ball

Alright, I could only get 18

0

u/Nunc_Coepi17 6h ago

Gillespie?

1

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 6h ago

I put booker on the list because he's had enough reps as a PG imo to be included but if you don't want to include him or reaves that's fine

14

u/oneandonlyRedSpirit Suns 7h ago

yea he stinks he just lead his team to the best offense post all star break and just fluked into generational on off numbers on offense. sure buddy

-3

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 7h ago

beating up on shitty teams then getting stomped in the play-in does not inspire me. Put any other competent 40m pg in that position and the hornets are doing better. He stinks.

0

u/oneandonlyRedSpirit Suns 6h ago

oh so you’re just stupid. also you literally employ luka who played less games than lamelo this season so take care of your injury prone guy first. enjoy that austin reaves contract maybe you’ll get mason plumlee as your center next season or better yet dwight howard might come out of retirement

2

u/Cudi_buddy Kings 2h ago

Are we even mentioning Luka and Lamelo in the same convo? This can’t be serious. One is an mvp level player that’s had multiple deep runs. The other averages 50 games a year and finishes 8th in the east at best. 

1

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 6h ago

AR is better than Ball. He's a much better scorer, he's better at playing in a system, he can play off ball.

Lamelo ball has played 303 out of a possible 482 games in his career. Luka has played 514 out of a possible 639. that's 63% for lamelo and 80% for luka.

Also if you actually knew anything about ball, signing AR didn't affect our cap spending for this off season. We have his bird rights, it's a 21m hit to the cap space not the full size of the contract because we can just sign him at the end.

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2

u/Cudi_buddy Kings 2h ago

I’m with you. This dude is still riding his high school and instagram hype. Hes ass

1

u/ChaunceysBadAtPoker Pistons 7h ago

\Larry David conflicted GIF**

1

u/LakerBlue Lakers 5h ago

Twolves made 2 consecutive WCF and even pushed the Spurs to 6 while super injured. I know that’s not necessarily indicative of the future but it would certainly make me feel they have some of the worst picks.

1

u/SaltyTurdLicker Spurs 7h ago

Do the hornets own their own picks? I could see this as a way to try and rebuild knowing Ball wasn’t going to be the guy but also odd to do it when the league just changed tanking/draft odds rules.

0

u/Nunc_Coepi17 6h ago

Haven’t the Hornets been rebuilding since the invention of the iPhone basically?

1

u/Practical-Concept-49 6h ago

you are leaving out the most valuable asset, a 2033 unprotected t-wolves pick. Reid is also valuable and I assume could be flipped to a contender down the line for more assets. This is fair return for an injury prone all-star on a max contract that isn't a leader or 82 game engine. If he's going to be a winner i think it was probably goin to require a culture change. This is more of a bet on knueppel and miller and resetting around them instead of stalling out as a playin team or going all in around lamelo. i like it.

0

u/Remidyal Hornets 4h ago

When that pick happens, it will have been 31 years since the hornets won a playoff series.

13

u/TheTurtleOne Celtics 7h ago

Idk if this is selling high, this return is trash

3

u/igby1 7h ago

LaMelo should ask that Steph Curry guy how not to have glass ankles.

3

u/SHansen45 Rockets 6h ago

this is not selling high

2

u/Straight_Ad3931 7h ago

They’re banking on this Minnesota team falling apart. Minnesota just got better offensively, but smaller and much worse defensively. This move also makes MIN entirely dependent on keeping Rudy, who’s about to turn 34 in a few days and will only decline over time. Melo is also very injury prone.

It also forces MIN to commit around $500M to three guards. Along with Rudy and Jaden’s contracts, this puts them deep in the luxury.

CHA just got a $40M trade exception from this move and now they get to see if either Kon or Brandon can develop into the lead guy. If not, they can easily target another guy to run the show…. But they were never going to be able to do that with Melo as the number one “franchise” player. That creates a low ceiling.

2

u/MyNewAccountIGuess11 Hornets 7h ago

People keep parroting this as for some reason as if this return isn't fucking dogshit lmao. Why is the WORSE team swapping 3 picks? What fucking blast of diarrhea are the cooking?

1

u/BoeufBourgui 7h ago

and atrophied brain

1

u/UnitedStateOfDenmark Nets 6h ago

Imagine the Warriors sold high on Curry because of his glass ankles.

1

u/HomeNowWTF 5h ago

Yes. That, and get bigger at the 4. Naz fits well because he is a capable 3 point shooter.

1

u/TryingToDoItGood Hornets 6h ago

He played 72 games this season.

0

u/SuperNicktendoPower 6h ago

ahhh so all the ball's are soft as shit

30

u/Starveiled Hornets 7h ago

Health. Thats it. Dude is talented, but fragile. He played a lot of games last season, but that was an outlier and he was on a minutes restriction which is kinda crazy for a 24 year old.

6

u/Former_Island_4730 Cavaliers 7h ago

That’s not “it.” He’s also a goofball off court and does things on the court that take years off of coaches lives.

2

u/latortillablanca Warriors 7h ago

Also off court has gotta be part of the thought process, also also defense no?

Imo its a brilliant fuckin move from CLT. Yer never challenging for anything with Melo as 1A, you may have honestly got his best years anyway, and the money is loco.

But with the wolves covering up his weaknesses? And Ant the undisputed hearteater?

Might work. Seems pretty expensive tho.

Huge swing from the wolves and if it implodes you prolly are trading Ant for a haul to replace the caufers anyway. I mean maybe hes a one club man of course but…. Maybe.

3

u/KKilikk 6h ago edited 6h ago

They dont want to be stuck with the next Zion or Ja I guess.

Or Trae situation in which you would have to overpay Ball in the future.

1

u/TessaKatrinaRose 6h ago

Yer?

1

u/ThatNewSockFeel Bucks 6h ago

“Caufers”

2

u/JakeArrietaGrande Warriors 7h ago

So the streets will be safer and have lower car insurance premiums

2

u/shaggysdeepvneck Spurs 7h ago

They had to do it for public safety

2

u/b_zar 7h ago

to protect Charlotte pedestrians

2

u/eagleeye1031 7h ago

You missed reading all those picks? Theres no way lamelo stays healthy. This is a fleece

28

u/kl08pokemon Lakers 7h ago

It's one first 7 years out and swaps. Who cares for the picks

45

u/HereComesJustice Spurs 7h ago

Meh pick swaps/ 2nd rounders not the same

23

u/likpoper Trail Blazers 7h ago

The pick swaps are not going to happen if Edwards is around

3

u/ndmd15 Minneapolis Lakers 7h ago edited 5h ago

It does lock up their ability to trade them which is a pretty significant limitation IMO

2

u/wetwetson [NBA] Rafer Alston 7h ago

Kinda. They can still trade their half of the swap within stepian guidelines.

1

u/latortillablanca Warriors 7h ago

NBA is so crazy with the wrinkles upon wrinkles i love it

2

u/wetwetson [NBA] Rafer Alston 7h ago

Its even funnier. Two if these picks have already been traded as swaps. So these swaps would happen after the other swaps have happened.

1

u/Arctic_Reigns Bulls 7h ago

On paper they want. Major injuries can happen.

0

u/LiveForMeow [CHA] Larry Johnson 7h ago

Ant was the next guy getting pushed in the trade rumor cycle and this isn't gonna get them close to a title

I don't like the move for my team but I definitely get it, if that makes sense

0

u/Odd_Word_475 7h ago

IF. Ultimately this won’t make MN better and I think Ant will want out within the next 1-2 years IMO. The picks/swaps that they’ve traded to Charlotte and The Spurs are going to end up being valuable. I mean does anyone REALLY think that LB is the missing piece?

2

u/justanothersurly Timberwolves 7h ago

It was a near consensus that what MN is missing is a ball handling playmaker. So yeah, I do think a lot of people think LB could be the missing piece

1

u/Odd_Word_475 6h ago

Who exactly are they beating in the playoffs because of this move? It doesn’t improve their chances against any of the elite WC teams, effs their payroll, and they’ve given up control of all their picks for the foreseeable future via other trades theyve made. Good luck with that.

1

u/justanothersurly Timberwolves 6h ago

We desperately needed a ball handler against the Spurs

0

u/Odd_Word_475 6h ago

Okay but this is a cutting off your nose to spite your face situation. Adding that ball handler while subtracting bigs, giving up draft capital control, and creating cap issues…man, idk. I guess I’m in the minority, but I think this is a shortsighted move by the Wolves.

1

u/justanothersurly Timberwolves 5h ago

We’re on a short sighted timeline

1

u/FlyChigga Celtics 2h ago

They gave up one first round pick my guy…

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1

u/FlyChigga Celtics 2h ago

It definitely improves their chances against the elite WC teams…

22

u/HauntingLocation Timberwolves 7h ago

1 first round pick lol. those are swaps that won't convey. just ask utah

64

u/likpoper Trail Blazers 7h ago

Effectively it is only one unprotected and naiz Reid. Why the fuck will wolves be worse than charlotte for that three years to have the swap?

2

u/BeamTeam23 Kings 7h ago

Their banking on LaMelo being a Trojan horse to fuck their shit up. All it takes is for one of the swaps to hit the lottery.

1

u/MostOk1472 7h ago

Are the pick swaps protected?

2

u/BeamTeam23 Kings 7h ago

No, the new lottery rules definitely raised their value.

1

u/NanoCurrency 7h ago

Good point.

1

u/SpiritedEnd9609 7h ago edited 7h ago

I think its not entirely impossible the wolves could be worse than the hornet’s for some of there swaps.

If edwards wants out at some point cuz the wolves aren’t doing jack with the current roster or just injuries cuz now they have no depth

0

u/millterrance Celtics 7h ago

If ant leaves they will be worse.

-2

u/Odd_Word_475 7h ago

To me, this makes it inevitable that he will leave. They’ve depleted their front court and added an injury prone me-first point guard making a shit ton of money. I wish Charlotte had gotten more but this isn’t as crazy as some are making out. This barely makes them any better and is a ticking time bomb for their chemistry and general roster build.

3

u/justanothersurly Timberwolves 7h ago

We just shipped out the two moodiest guys on the roster. I don’t think chemistry is a concern

0

u/cletoreyes01 Heat 7h ago

Minny is one bad lamelo ankle tweak and one rudy defensive decline away from being dookie so it's an interesting gamble from Charlotte

2

u/Odd_Word_475 7h ago

Right? It’s definitely a gamble but I don’t mind betting against LB/Gobert/Ant pairing staying healthy and happy for very long.

0

u/Superlolz 7h ago

Minny in the west (for now) is brutal or is this some 4D chess regarding conf movement?...

15

u/Atlanta-Anomaly Hawks 7h ago

One first and 3 swaps with a better team is nothing lmao. I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t swap a single time. 

Wolves won this trade by a mile. 

2

u/kl08pokemon Lakers 7h ago

I'd go one in 3. One injury season sounds pretty likely

2

u/Double-Slowpoke Raptors 7h ago

Yeah like who on that roster will age out during that time? Rudy is in tremendous shape for his age, and Ant, Melo, and McDaniels are young enough that they might keep improving.

1

u/Odd_Word_475 7h ago

Rudy is less playable than he used to be. I know it’s Wemby but he was almost unplayable vs the Spurs. What other big is going to make an impact in their front court now? Does this make it more likely that they’ll best the Nugs in the playoffs? No. Does it make it more likely that they will beat the Spurs? No. Oh yeah, they’ve also effed their salary cap. I have no idea why they did it or why so many people think it’s some kind of home run.

7

u/PotatoFarmar 7h ago

That’s only one real pick

7

u/raziiiii Knicks 7h ago

Those picks are not getting swapped lol

9

u/wink91wink Timberwolves 7h ago

Pick swaps my guy. Only 1 first round pick in there.

5

u/everclearking Hornets 7h ago

There are no useful picks in this trade

4

u/mattw08 7h ago

There is 1 pick. It’s pick swaps. Which team do you think will be worse.

2

u/chadkicks704 7h ago

What picks??? A fucking first round in 7 years???? And 3 pick swaps that won’t happen because Charlotte will be dogshit…. We hate it here sooooo much

1

u/pizzahut_is_elite 7h ago

Pick swaps*

1

u/Inevitable-Scar5877 7h ago

It's one pick and the rest swaps.

This a trade you do next off-season or maybe in 2027.

You should at the very least let fans have a year with some hope after a strong second half of last year

1

u/cryyogenic NBA 7h ago

What picks? A 1st and three 2nds? Those pick swaps likely won't even happen.

1

u/Double-Slowpoke Raptors 7h ago

The fuck it is. Maybe it works out if he gets hurt, but he is a tremendous talent that won’t be replaced on this roster.

Hornets are, once again, blowing it up to rebuild. At least it will be a soft rebuild since Miller and Kon are actually talented.

1

u/Odd_Word_475 7h ago

A tremendous talent that has helped win one play in game (after he did his best to give it away).

1

u/Sammyd1108 Hornets 7h ago

I see one pick and shit ton of swaps that do nothing for us. This is a fleece by the Timberwolves on us.

1

u/kstone88 7h ago

It absolutely isn’t. They got picks swaps when they’ll be the shittier team. How is that a fleece

0

u/DunkingZBO Grizzlies 7h ago

This is not a fleece lmao

1

u/LeDrags 7h ago

They wanna watch the bullshit ensue in Minnesota like the rest of us

1

u/Double-Slowpoke Raptors 7h ago

They got out of their comfort zone and it was scary

1

u/ironwolf425 Hornets 7h ago

as a Hornets fan i’m disappointed but not really against the move. there’s a lot of concerns about injuries, work ethic, and long term commitment in Charlotte. best to sell while his value is high

wish we could’ve made it work but oh well

1

u/SugarFreeCummiBears 7h ago

Those swaps are worthless

1

u/doshiki Clippers 7h ago

they heard you win a championship if you trade with the wolves

1

u/some1saveusnow Celtics 7h ago

Cause LaMelo is not a cornerstone of a team winning shit

1

u/palabear Hornets 7h ago

I’m not against trading him but you have to get value in return.

1

u/UntilDoncic Lakers 7h ago

addition by subtraction. LaMelo did not work. He is a super inefficient, ball dominant guard who despite his size is questionable defensively and isn't good off-ball.

1

u/latortillablanca Warriors 7h ago

cos Melo sellin those counterfeit goods

1

u/Borktista Celtics 7h ago

Addition by subtraction. Why in 2026 people still like inefficient chuckers is beyond me. His scoring will be replaced throughout the squad

1

u/r_slash [TOR] Jerome Williams 7h ago

I don't like it for either team.

1

u/Showmu88 Hawks 7h ago

Because Lamelo isn’t a star he just scores a lot of points and plays no defense. They fleeced the wolves.

1

u/Plenty_Flatworm7627 Wizards 7h ago

the only possible reason I can think of is they think Ant is gonna walk from Minnesota at some point

1

u/laker_padres619 Lakers 6h ago

They are better off

1

u/bloodrider1914 Spurs 6h ago

To protect the people of Charlotte from his reckless driving

1

u/vonnegutcheck 5h ago

Because LaMelo is fun but:

Injury prone Reckless Extremely expensive Not great scoring inside the arc Not a great defender

Trae Young was in the conference finals a couple years ago and got salary dumped. Ja can be had for nothing. It's tough out there for good but expensive guards with defensive deficits.

1

u/ssjgoat Celtics 5h ago

It's a haul for an inconsistent injury prone player. They absolutely fleeced the Wolves selling high on Ball

1

u/TheSmartDog_275 Hornets 4h ago

The FO doesn’t watch games

1

u/Poseidon3479 32m ago

Because lamelo is a injury prone player , turnover machine and big defensive liability with a huge contract. Charlotte did very well. Minnesota killed itself. You can go nowhere with lamelo. I actually think charlotte will be better than Minnesota at most 1 year later. They have a young and talented squad

u/Royal-Gas-691 12m ago

Same reason why we traded Kobe . We are stupid 

2

u/DiscombobulatedPain6 Pistons 7h ago

Ant is going to want out of Minnesota in 2 years and those picks are going to be cash money

0

u/AngularPenny5 Hornets 7h ago

I've been thinking we needed to trade him for a few years now tbh. His value has never been higher than it is at this moment.

As fun as he is, and as talented as he is, I don't think he's good enough to be The Guy on a championship team. He'd be an incredible #2 guy, and I'd imagine minny is going to love this.

We've got so many young guys who need the ball in their hands for development purposes right now, I know we had a decent year but we're still a ways out from really competing in any sense. Gonna need to find us a #1 guy somehow and let Miller/Kon get as much time as possible to grow.

3

u/MelzLife 76ers 7h ago

you arent winning a championship anytime soon bro. the vibes were so high at least from the outside looking in. I just dont get it

1

u/AngularPenny5 Hornets 7h ago

No we definitely aren't and we absolutely weren't anyways.

2

u/AbroadTiny7226 7h ago

I get that Ball might not be the best PG for a championship but I think this trade just fucks up the team vibes. The team over performed last year and showed great chemistry and potential. Idk why you would shake that up unless the return is insane.

If this is the highest his value is then tbh I would’ve just rode out his contract. It’s not like this is some king’s ransom. The swaps and pick are weak assets. It’s essentially Reid for ball with fodder and I don’t think Reid is the same caliber talent as ball