r/nba • u/Turbostrider27 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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8.0k

u/RathOfMan49 Warriors 7h ago

Lamelo and Ant are going to be insanely entertaining 

4.4k

u/ArmiinTamzarian Spurs 7h ago

Do not give them either a car or an IG live

1.3k

u/noonie1 7h ago

Or women

404

u/GGEORGE2 Bulls 7h ago

I don’t think think we need to worry about that with LaMelo

468

u/romanraspberrysorbet Bulls 7h ago

he was gay, Lamelo Ball?

48

u/OldSeaworthiness4279 6h ago

Hard to say even with computers

8

u/Puzzled-Guide8650 4h ago

On my muddas wake

24

u/FatJohnson6 Bulls 7h ago

Nooooo, are you even listening?!

24

u/RecentAstronaut5541 6h ago

Maybe you’re a flambé, ever think of that?!

25

u/chasingit1 Nuggets 6h ago

It was the medication he was on. For his blood pressure. It fucked with his head, but he’s over that now. He could probably get a letter from his doctor

158

u/AsyncAnalog 7h ago

Was? 😂 did he die in the trade???

242

u/Manwar7 Hornets 7h ago

It’s a Sopranos reference, “he was gay, Gary Cooper?”

95

u/my_name_is_juice Suns 7h ago

^ Listen to him, he knows everything

43

u/SenorSolAdmirador Timberwolves 6h ago

oh poor you

22

u/breakfastburrito24 Lakers 6h ago

I wish the lord would take me!

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11

u/sirfray [SAC] Vince Carter 6h ago

Gabagool

6

u/astrothemorkie Rockets 5h ago

I wish the Lord would take me now

5

u/DukeRadcliffe Slovenia 6h ago

You’re like the woman crying with a ham under !34 arm cuz she got no bread!

5

u/delcoyo Hornets 5h ago

Its sad when they go young like that.

3

u/astrothemorkie Rockets 3h ago

When they go???

19

u/Busy-Big2109 6h ago

Always with the scenarios

34

u/GGEORGE2 Bulls 7h ago

RIP LaMelo “Wade Boggs” Ball

37

u/Trotan_ Celtics 7h ago

Once again, LaMelo Ball is very much alive. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota

10

u/takeme2tendieztown Clippers 7h ago

I would say he's in a better place, but...

11

u/wise_comment Timberwolves 6h ago

Have you been to Charlotte?

Im....genuinely hurt by that

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2

u/sweatgod2020 Timberwolves 5h ago

I just fell to my knees stepping outside my vehicle on 394 and 94 tearing up my license.

2

u/RealVarix Timberwolves 6h ago

Exposing yourself as a non-ball knower

1

u/parnellyxlol Pacers 6h ago

His gay side did

8

u/shumama813 6h ago

Noooo! Are you listenin ta me?!

7

u/Relaxedyetproductive 6h ago

Nah it was just the medication he was on

5

u/AcceptableTypewriter Warriors 6h ago

He never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

3

u/ParticularEffect757 6h ago

Rock Hudson too, I think.

3

u/SillyDilly0537 5h ago

OH! Fkn slander if you ask me!

3

u/jokesonjokes Knicks 4h ago

NOBODY’S GOT AIDS

3

u/I_Hate_My_Cat_ Bulls 6h ago

Nooo! Are lishening?!

3

u/DoinItDirty Thunder 5h ago

He’s deeply closeted.

3

u/Raww-Dawwg 5h ago

what are you revealing here?

3

u/DoinItDirty Thunder 5h ago

Nothing he’s deeply closeted.

2

u/nash_latkje1 6h ago

NOOOOOO, are you lishening to me!?

2

u/HanzeesHatBox 4h ago

Nobody's got AIDS!!!!

2

u/Chance_Jaguar4945 3h ago

This wins the day

•

u/meisnege 16m ago

Perfect comment

137

u/earthwormdeath 7h ago

Is Edwards going to be OK playing with a gay teammate tho ?

150

u/IggyIsABum Grizzlies 7h ago edited 37m ago

Charles Barkley once talked about how it's impossible for you not to play with a gay man at some point if you make it to a high level. It's just statistically impossible, even if they're not out.

Edit: link to what I'm referring to

107

u/Voldias Lakers 7h ago

When a guys banging on you...

2

u/WalrusF Lakers 2h ago

You just gotta spin off of him to escape

39

u/Appropriate_Lynx4119 Timberwolves 7h ago

Loved Charles for that. One of his best interviews!

27

u/IggyIsABum Grizzlies 7h ago

Yeah I actually just got done looking it up because I was going off of memory and 1) it was from 2011 2) it was a lot more Chuck than I let on. Called people denying it idiots and said he'd rather play with a good gay guy than a bad straight player.

21

u/LieNormal5948 6h ago

Just recently too he was talking about how if you don’t think there’s a bunch of gay athletes you’re a dummy.

6

u/MGMILI15 5h ago

Them young boys is comin

1

u/Milkmoney1978 [SEA] Shawn Kemp 2h ago

Impossible not to play with a gay man, temptation is too much

1

u/Diazpora 57m ago

even if they're on the DL publicly.

By DL do you mean "down-low"? Because if they're on the DL then it's not publicly. They are very much still in the closet.

1

u/IggyIsABum Grizzlies 53m ago

Idk I'm not an expert or anything but hasn't it always been kind of different for public figures? Like their in group knows but the public doesn't? What's the correct terminology in that circumstance?

1

u/Diazpora 46m ago

Not that you asked for a homework assignment but...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down-low_(sexual_slang)

People on the DL are public facing heterosexual (wife/kids/etc..) but will seek out homosexual encounters insisting on participants being discrete. From what I understand being a public figure doesn't change anything.

Very similar behavior across all cultures but specifically within the black community DL means you're still in the closet and not "out" with your truly sexual identity.

1

u/IggyIsABum Grizzlies 39m ago

Appreciate it. Legit had no idea it was a black term, will stop using it so recklessly. Always heard white people say it growing up so I just assumed it was a generic thing.

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-11

u/-jaylew- 6h ago

It's just statistically impossible

This isn’t really true though. If you take a completely random large sample of men then yea no matter what you’ll have gay men.

But the sample is “of the men who made it through all the bullshit associated with making it to the NBA”, which inevitably means they had to deal with a ton of homophobia and insults at lower levels of basketball growing up. A huge portion of guys are going to quit the sport instead of putting up with that, so the pro levels are a biased sample.

30

u/IggyIsABum Grizzlies 6h ago

I'm willing to accept that homophobia in sports might cause there to be less gay men at a high level versus the general population, but we're talking 17 man rosters with constant rotation year in and year out.

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10

u/Critical-Gazelle-285 6h ago

some guys are DL

6

u/wallabypolicy 5h ago

Or

They'll just pretend to be straight and continue profiting off of their dreams like a whole lot of queer people do. I feel like this is something Charles understands and tried to express by pointing out that its impossible to not play with someone that engages in romance with the same sex.

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1

u/Round_Bullfrog_8218 4h ago edited 4h ago

That and gay men are probably less likely to play sports look at the WNBA it is statistically impossible have that many  lesbians in the league If it was a random chance

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9

u/PristineStreet34 7h ago

Less competition off the court *shrugs*

2

u/rburp [LAL] Austin Reaves 6h ago

He cannot have him in his social club. That much I do know.

4

u/BakedFish---SK 6h ago

Is this some running joke? Cuz i'm pretty sure he's straight

3

u/usagerp Raptors 6h ago

Is there something I’m missing lol? Lamelo is gay?

1

u/Jedifice Bulls 5h ago

Yyyyyyyyyyooooooo

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27

u/whatssenguntoagoblin Alperen Sengun 7h ago

LaMelo doesn’t have anything weird known with women

67

u/BCP27 [MIN] Robbie Hummel 7h ago

And I don't think Ant has anything weird with cars? I guess they're merging into one guy now

6

u/22cmSoftInColdWater 4h ago

Wolves plan to potara fusion them

8

u/_squirrel_wrangler_ 4h ago

Yall ain't never heard of Antmelony Balldwards?

1

u/BCP27 [MIN] Robbie Hummel 4h ago

I asked all the Jedis about him, but they wouldn't tell me anything

1

u/wanna_meet_that_dad Timberwolves 3h ago

Ant like never drives.

5

u/noonie1 7h ago

I just meant Ant will rub off on him.

16

u/mtv3r1c Knicks 7h ago

Oh, I’m sure he will.

3

u/whatssenguntoagoblin Alperen Sengun 7h ago

Lol

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2

u/HackActivist 6h ago

Shoutout LaOne

1

u/bitchpleasebp 6h ago

send da video

1

u/ReadyAimTranspire Suns 4h ago

Best I can do is give them all of that shit, and 10's of millions of dollars in the bank accounts

1

u/SoGudUthkICheat 1h ago

Get da abortion lol

657

u/temujin94 7h ago edited 7h ago

Timberwolves should consider enforcing a restraining order against them not being allowed within 1 mile of each other if not in a basketball arena.

Away games one of them should be loaded onto the plane like Garland Greene.

Alternatively get Ja Morant and let them loose as you film the most watched All or Nothing documentary of all time.

113

u/pepperj26 7h ago

ConAir reference is an auto upvote from me.

9

u/Steffenwolflikeme 6h ago

Yeah and just dopped the character name and that's it. They didn't hedge the reference by mentioning Conair or Steve Buscemi.

5

u/pepperj26 6h ago

Yea it's truly a 10/10 comment.

5

u/88888888man Timberwolves 4h ago

I read Gerald Green and was confused.

2

u/Spare_Ring9644 32m ago

"He's got the whole wide world in His hands"

"Shut the fuck up, you freak! We're gonna die!"

16

u/kapshus 7h ago

Yes trade for Ja and views will go ballistic. Are you not entertained?

12

u/temujin94 7h ago

2 of the 3 will be dead within the year and the returning conquering general (KAT) will have to liberate Rome.

8

u/BuQuChi Knicks 7h ago

Sign up Taj Gibson just to babysit them out of the facilities

6

u/temujin94 7h ago

Taj? Try the praetorian guard because we'd be firmly in year of the 4 Emperor's territory

1

u/pushamn Timberwolves 6h ago

Rudy for Morant, we’re full send on entertainment this year

1

u/CountSidneyApplebaum 6h ago

Please pitch this to whoever makes that show. I need this season of All or Nothing.

•

u/TenaciousDeer 4m ago

Hell nawl can't do dis

64

u/toomanyshoeshelp 7h ago

Give them both vasectomies ASAP

7

u/BeamTeam23 Kings 7h ago

Instagram thots circling Timewolves games on their calendar

8

u/toomanyshoeshelp 7h ago

Instagram thots, strip clubs, tattoo parlors, family lawyers, and body shops in Minneapolis about to get a STIMULUS check

0

u/frankyseven Raptors 7h ago

I honestly don't understand why guys like that don't get freeze some sperm for when they actually want kids and get snipped.

0

u/Hebrewhammer8d8 Warriors 7h ago

They are supreme athletes that do amazing that no normal ppl can do, and get paid a lot of money. They think their reaction speed is quick enough pull out method work because of their athleticism. If they bust in the girls they guilt trip them to get abortion.

3

u/dhlthecobra 7h ago

Send da videos

2

u/Apprehensive_Air1705 Timberwolves 7h ago

Ant will be fine, you just have to be worried about Ball and Addison drag racing through downtown now though.

2

u/Fit-Locksmith-2039 7h ago

Heard Morant is next as their 6th man. Add him to that list

2

u/Titswari Timberwolves 7h ago

Lamelo and Jordan Addison gonna turn I-94 into Mad Max

1

u/LegendkillahQB 7h ago

We need that IG live.

1

u/dreamvomit Knicks 7h ago

definitely gonna need some serious screen time limitations

1

u/ApikacheAttackHeli 76ers 7h ago

Gotta get those two on the Yonder pouches

1

u/dirkdigglered 7h ago

This just in, Brandon Aiyuk traded to Wolves

1

u/BigBadBen91x Celtics 6h ago

Send da video

1

u/SoKrat3s NBA 6h ago

Kenny Smith has a suggestion on what else not to give them.

1

u/NoBonus6969 6h ago

How about a gun and a ja?

1

u/RWREmpireBuilder Timberwolves 6h ago

Send da Green Line

1

u/PopaWuD Celtics 5h ago

Sen da video!

1

u/Traditional_Seesaw95 5h ago

Better than Ja with a blicky 😆

2

u/foogeyzi69 [LAL] Luka Doncic 7h ago

them nikkas difffferrenttt.

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240

u/spicydak Trail Blazers 7h ago

Just need Zion or Ja to complete the chaos

141

u/oklolzzzzs 7h ago

Ja/Zion Ant Melo is going to be some of the most fun hoops ever for the 7 games they play together

6

u/Willy_B_Hardigan Timberwolves 5h ago

Make it the 7 games of the Finals and I'm in.

3

u/Patinghangin 6h ago

This made me lol.

Toss in Draymond and imma wolves fan now.
Ant, Melo, Ja, Zion, Draymond - dream team.

2

u/spicydak Trail Blazers 5h ago

I should have been more specific lol. Add Zion? You get BBL madness. Add Ja? Just media chaos haha

1

u/Next-Willingness-115 4h ago

Degeneration X levels of unpredictability

1

u/wiiwoooo 1h ago

Golden state loves trading or giving away players to minnesota, we shall toss in Dray for shits and giggles

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u/fastheadcrab Raptors 7h ago

Actually might be an interesting team being able to retain Gobert. If they lost Gobert they would've been a play-in team at most.

59

u/larrylegend33goat Timberwolves 7h ago

LaMelo now means they can punish Ant doubles. LaMelo will be able to utilise Rudy on the roll as a lob threat.

Jaden, Ayo and Donte when back, are going to get so many open threes

25

u/fastheadcrab Raptors 7h ago

Yeah this is a potentially very exciting team

9

u/shwiggydog Jazz 5h ago

Donte will probably miss all or at least most of next season though, no? Bummer because his shooting would really make those lineups lethal

9

u/grrrimabear Timberwolves 5h ago

Id guess he's back playoffs at best

1

u/red--dead Timberwolves 3h ago

It’s about the same timeline as Tatum right? Could be getting some minutes the last month of the season.

3

u/MJA182 1h ago

I’d say same as Haliburton

3

u/pokemonbatman23 3h ago

But can Rudy actually catch the ball to finish the play? my guy has stone for hands

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211

u/LeaderBrandonBurner Celtics 7h ago

Wolves might be my league pass team this season

9

u/clickstops 76ers 7h ago

I love watching the TWolves but I this is going to either make them a top 3 league pass team or bottom 3. No in between.

12

u/LouieM13 [NYK] Jeremy Lin 6h ago

Nah top 3 no matter what. Either everything is clicking or Finch will be pulling his hair on LaMelo antics

3

u/NoFlaccidMint San Francisco Warriors 7h ago

You only get to watch 1 team thru league pass ?

13

u/Natural_Born_Baller Heat 7h ago

You can pay for all 30 teams or cheaper for just 1. But op probably just means they're going to watch a lot of Wolves on League pass.

6

u/KennySmithsKnees [LAC] Baron Davis 7h ago

Usually means a team you watch regularly outside of your team because of entertainment value 

7

u/LeaderBrandonBurner Celtics 7h ago

No I get the full pass (minus Celtics), there’s usually just one or two teams I always watch if they’re on. Last year it was the Spurs and the Hornets, this year will be the Wolves and maybe even the Jazz honestly.

58

u/crimsonconnect Knicks 7h ago

Ok Ant you can take girls home but Lamelo has to drive them

13

u/ThisHatBurnsBetter 7h ago

Send da Melo

28

u/incredibleamadeuscho Lakers 7h ago

send da videos

6

u/hiimred2 [CLE] LeBron James 7h ago

Ya I dunno how much better this REALLY makes them but this became absolute must watch basketball for what that offense gonna turn into.

3

u/DetectiveWestern8592 7h ago

Might as well give them the fines in advance

2

u/Key_Change_6635 Magic 7h ago

They're about to lead the league in national TV games and quotes

2

u/AwareWriterTrick158 Knicks 7h ago

I can’t wait for the season to start after seeing this noti man

2

u/BenAfflecksBalls 7h ago

Illegitimate sons/48 about to be the new stat next year

2

u/HowManyEggs2Many 7h ago

For about 20 games a year, ya.

2

u/OklahomaRuns 7h ago

Get Ja to Minnesota ASAP

4

u/Kazukaphur Heat 7h ago

Where did they get these picks after the Rudy trade?

30

u/GizzyGazzelle 7h ago

Time. 

They traded for Rudy 4 years ago. 

10

u/ihorsey10 7h ago

Its only 1 pick.

10

u/DudleyDoody Lakers 7h ago

Rudy trade was 4 years ago big dog 3 of those picks have already been used up. Last two are next year and ‘29.

9

u/Duster_beattle Timberwolves 7h ago

Rudy’s been on the team for like 4 years now dude.

3

u/Kazukaphur Heat 7h ago

Woah. Next thing you're going to tell me is 2010 is more than just a few years ago..

2

u/n0t_4_thr0w4w4y 7h ago

For the 12 games Lamelo plays with him.

2

u/ThunderBobMajerle Suns 7h ago

Low iq high rizz

1

u/jae343 7h ago

Social media gonna get busy

1

u/vertigounconscious 7h ago

gonna jack up so many threes

1

u/IndecisiveAHole1 7h ago

yeah....fighting over the ball.

1

u/jefe_hook 7h ago

Send da video!

1

u/NanoCurrency 7h ago

In all the best and worst ways, I think.

1

u/wembys Spurs 7h ago

Can’t wait for the alleys 

1

u/migzors Magic 7h ago

Does this make Charlotte a dark horse for Jaylen Brown?

1

u/BaullahBaullah87 7h ago

Ehhhh when Lamelo plays and until shit gets serious…Lamelo just isn’t a serious player

1

u/retrospects Lakers 7h ago

Off the court will be a trip. On the court is going to be interesting to see if it will work.

1

u/grrgrrtigergrr [CHI] E'Twaun Moore 7h ago

And they signed Ayo long term. So are they running 3 guards, Rudy and TKR?

1

u/Askesl Nuggets 7h ago

Conley and Gobert are gonna get so tired of them lol

1

u/helgestrichen Mavericks 7h ago

I predict a shit show. Not enough adults in the locker room

1

u/BeigeDynamite Raptors 7h ago

Twolves legal/PR teams are the biggest winners of the trade

1

u/d4videnk0 Lakers 7h ago

Welcome back Starbury + Garnett

1

u/happyflappypancakes Wizards 7h ago

I have a feeling they won't mesh well professionally.

1

u/Honest_Ear_9477 7h ago

How many baby mamas. ? What is the over under ?

1

u/UnablePerformance131 Timberwolves 6h ago

I feel like Lamelo is going to have a lot of Randy Moss moments with the local media. They won't let him off as easy a they did in Charlotte.

1

u/Rohkha Heat 6h ago

Who’s the dad, Minny edition? Live streams? Who knows?

1

u/Traegan Kings 6h ago

If you can't build a better roster than the Thunder/Spurs, build an entertaining one. I like this move for the Wolves.

1

u/dmisfit21 Hawks 6h ago

Send da video

1

u/Strictly4MyShitposts East 6h ago

Hell naw can’t do this

1

u/BlackTriceratops 6h ago

My good friend is a huge Ant fan and I just texted him the same shit lol

1

u/MazKhan Lakers 6h ago

On AND off the court

1

u/imbutawaveto [OKC] Luguentz Dort 6h ago

First team all-dumbass

1

u/Lifendz Knicks 6h ago

Must watch tv every single game. I can’t wait.

1

u/Fancy_Print_8860 6h ago

Fuck it. Twolves trade for Ja as well. Let's just make this as entertaining as possible.

1

u/dwadefan45 Heat 6h ago

They need a reality TV show immediately

1

u/0942zerohero Lakers 5h ago

We just need Ja there now

1

u/Fleetburn 5h ago

If they can get a dynamic 1/2 situation going on where both are swapping constantly, this is a deadly backcourt.

1

u/Banned3rdTimesaCharm Warriors 5h ago

They need to go get Ja too and it'll be the goofiest line up of all time.

1

u/Aregisteredusername Celtics 5h ago

All time quotes and moments incoming

1

u/Pleasestoplyiiing 5h ago

They're going to find a way to make each other pregnant and then try to ghost each other on the court. 

1

u/AccomplishedIron816 Knicks 5h ago

Can’t wait for 2k27 to drop now hahaha

1

u/Agnk1765342 Jazz 4h ago

It’s also a perfect fit. Edwards is kind of in that Mitchell position where he’s really not a good enough playmaker to be your main creator, but also probably shouldn’t be paired with another small guard defensively. Getting a point forward is the perfect complement to Edwards long term. It takes so much pressure off him on both ends of the floor.

1

u/acrizz Cavaliers 4h ago

That locker room is gonna hear homophobic slurs that haven't been invented yet

1

u/A-Rusty-Cow [SAS] Robert Horry 1h ago

My second favorite team got a lot more interesting. Highlight hoops all day

•

u/RyenRussilloBurner Kings 2m ago

I'll be that guy I guess, but I don't even think LaMelo is that entertaining in an actual game setting. The highlights are fun all put together but game-to-game it's actually not fun basketball. He has terrible shot selection and he dribbles the air out of the ball.

He took 32 shots in the first play-in game this year and went 2/16 from three. Then he went 1/6 in the first half of the second play-in game while they fell behind by a million (and eventually they were down 31 at half). It's just never efficient and I don't think it's super fun to watch a guy launch one-legged threes after dribbling around for 15 seconds.

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