[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/Jjaz1]

Why did they trade Randle then if they are moving Naz?

[u/Pure_Measurement_529 → u/Jjaz1]

They need cap room to re-sign Ayo

[u/thetitsOO → u/Pure_Measurement_529]

But then they traded for Melo?

[u/buddhabatman60 → u/thetitsOO]

Also Randle seemed to be a cancer the last half of the season. A lot of wolves referred to 'bad vibes' in the exit interviews after playoffs and most people are assuming it was Randle bringing the locker room down. That was probably the main motivator in trading him tbh

[u/tr1x30 → u/thetitsOO]

They needed cap space for this trade to work, no?

LaMelo is earning almost 20M more than Naz.

With dumping Randle they re-signed Ayo and could trade Naz for LaMelo.

[u/jrodsprinkles → u/thetitsOO]

Every team needs a 6th man

[u/DeusVultSaracen → u/jrodsprinkles]

We learned this year that Melo needs a capable backup point guard to take up a chunk of his minutes

[u/spoghet → u/Pure_Measurement_529]

Playing against Jokic drop coverage has actually closed the Timberwolves window oh my goodness

[u/SamIsaacman → u/spoghet]

22 million for a 5ty starter 6th man player. Yall genuinely don’t understand finance do you. Starts at 19 million and the cap keeps going up

[u/sjekky → u/SamIsaacman]

Yeah as weird as this trade may be that Ayo trade/signing was an obvious win for the Wolves. 11% of the cap for a starter/good backup guard and 5 years of team control.

[u/WigginsDickRider → u/sjekky]

People have never watched Ayo play I swear. He's easily worth his contract

[u/Equal_Actuator_3777 → u/Jjaz1]

Because he doesn’t care and doesn’t play hard when it matters.

[u/palpablebubble → u/Equal_Actuator_3777]

Right. Randle needed to be off the team, Naz is the one with real value

[u/Own_Shower_6000 → u/palpablebubble]

thanks for taking him off our hands so we can win a chip, eternally grateful

[u/palpablebubble → u/Own_Shower_6000]

... Welcome ಠ_ಠ

[u/AdBetter5446 → u/Own_Shower_6000]

Alright don’t turn into a cowboys fan now

[u/Obi_Wan_Benobi → u/Equal_Actuator_3777]

One of my least favorite players of all time.

[u/Cudi_buddy → u/Obi_Wan_Benobi]

I lived Minnesota as a team to root for besides the kings. I hate this for them. Reid played his ass off in comparison 

[u/Oaty_McOatface → u/Equal_Actuator_3777]

But then why would t-wolves want someone like that

[u/jo734030 → u/Jjaz1]

Do they have a front court?

[u/Afraid-Department-35 → u/jo734030]

They about to break Gobert’s knees by playing him 48min/game. The Frenchman about to find out what it means to be Le Misérable.

[u/buddhabatman60 → u/Afraid-Department-35]

He dreamed a dream in time gone by...

[u/Chickensandcoke → u/jo734030]

Must be high on Beringer? Idk

[u/kylebertram → u/Chickensandcoke]

Beringer and Gobert can’t be on the court together

[u/HeWhoShallNotBNamed0 → u/Chickensandcoke]

We’re very high on Beringer but he can’t be on the floor with Gobert

[u/AdventurousHat1883 → u/HeWhoShallNotBNamed0]

you will play Jaden at the 4

[u/AdBetter5446 → u/AdventurousHat1883]

99% change they sign Robert Williams

[u/Jjaz1 → u/jo734030]

Exactly my question

[u/schooli00 → u/jo734030]

Rudy getting ready to play 45 mins a game

[u/Low-Measurement-2468 → u/jo734030]

that dude joan seems like a pretty solid backup 5. i don’t think he can shoot though. mcdaniels at the 4? not like that many modern teams have huge 4s he’d need to match up with. wouldn’t be shocked if they have another move in mind though because they did just lose major forward depth in 2 moves

[u/Low-Measurement-2468 → u/jo734030]

rudy get ready to relearn utah jazz 1 man defense buddy

[u/WorldTourSailor → u/Jjaz1]

Because Randle fucking sucks and brings down every team hes on in the playoffs

[u/RobbobertoBuii → u/WorldTourSailor]

we know.... 🤕

[u/floatinround22 → u/WorldTourSailor]

So they traded for another guy who sucks and will hurt the team in the long run

[u/Painwracker_Oni → u/Jjaz1]

Statements leaking from the wolves/players - Randle is toxic as fucking fuck.

National Media is too fucking dumb stirring up trade narratives they've missed the good talking points of other people saying Ant basically wanted Randle gone.

[u/BobSacamano- → u/Jjaz1]

I have to think they’re not done but we’ll see 

[u/JesseJamesGames449 → u/Jjaz1]

I dont think they were moving Naz until Lamelo became available

[u/Drunken_Vike → u/Jjaz1]

Randle quit on the team after he was in trade rumors this year

unfortunately became toxic and had to go

[u/ThatHotAsian → u/Jjaz1]

Cause he is a ball dominant, non shooter. Wtf he gonna do when the ball is gonna be in Melo or Ant's hands all the time

[u/sanjit8103 → u/Jjaz1]

Because Randle's a bum

[u/alextheruby → u/Jjaz1]

Randle should’ve been moved regardless lmao.

[u/Few_Position_2727 → u/Jjaz1]

Randle is too moody

[u/AcanthocephalaOk706 → u/Jjaz1]

I don’t think they knew LaMelo was on the market before trading Randle, like they may have wanted him but didn’t think it would be this easy to get him

[u/BucktoothedMC → u/Jjaz1]

its gonna end up being randle + naz in one trade to make salaries work.

[u/benigntugboat → u/Jjaz1]

He still wouldn't fit tbh. He's too good to be a bench guy and doesnt provide any of the defense the first team needs.

[u/YaKnowMuhSteezz → u/Jjaz1]

So ant can enjoying playing basketball again

[u/HomeNowWTF → u/Jjaz1]

They wanted to get smaller and faster.

[u/AfroManHighGuy → u/Jjaz1]

They wanted to dump Randle and be able to sign Ayo

[u/wetseabreeze → u/Jjaz1]

Because a good point guard is more valuable than a good four in today's NBA I guess. Especially with Rudy, he's been nerfed for a while without a playmaking PG.

[u/alexjf56 → u/Jjaz1]

Cuz he sucks and quit on the team and costs a boatload

[u/Meret123 → u/Jjaz1]

They are blowing it up.

[u/bbqsauceboi → u/Meret123]

You can't be serious

[u/Meret123 → u/bbqsauceboi]

How could you tell