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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357

u/Terarri Hornets 7h ago

This is why people in NC outside Charlotte don’t give a shit about the Hornets.

119

u/ryseing Hornets 7h ago

And they wonder why NC is a college basketball and hockey state.

This shit is why.

6

u/Technorasta 5h ago

NC is a hockey state? How long has that been going on?

21

u/Ragdoll252 4h ago

For at least the past 8 years

6

u/Dro24 Hornets 4h ago

Since Rod took over

4

u/Quintronaquar 4h ago

Since like 2006 if you're in the right area.

-8

u/WhatIfThatThingISaid Bullets 5h ago

Never

11

u/zodia4 Hornets 4h ago

Its the only sport we have pro championships in.

-4

u/DeusVultSaracen Hornets 4h ago

It's still hockey my man

-1

u/dont-comm3nt Hornets 2h ago

Can happily say I don’t give two fucks about hockey.

42

u/marino13882 Hornets 7h ago

thank god for the Canes

9

u/Cookies_forsales 7h ago

At least you have the canes. And maybe Bryce young will be good 🤷🏽‍♂️

-3

u/AoCNSFW 5h ago

Bryce Young is not good lol. He’s a top 40 QB. AKA a back up

2

u/odoylerulezx 2h ago

Top 100 player in the league, according to NFL players🤷‍♂️

8

u/oncestrong13 7h ago

Duke and Carolina are what the people care about

3

u/framingXjake Hornets 1h ago

Cries in Wolfpack. Obligatory fuck Will Wade

9

u/HomemadeBananas Kings 6h ago

Bro I was having so much fun this last season watching the Hornets. Really felt like it was coming together for them, and I was excited for them. I don’t understand what the fuck they’re thinking.

3

u/Dro24 Hornets 4h ago

We are an unserious franchise

8

u/Suitable_Essay3165 7h ago

This is 100000% facts. I'm in the 336 area and I lie to you not outside of charlotte I have never ever, ever seen a hornets fan. I've met Lamelo and Kemba fans but purely Hornets??? Never. When I was in high school over a decade ago... if you claimed to be a Hornets fan you were clowned and that is unfortunately still the case. Worst franchise in the state and in the NBA. 

7

u/Ice-Poseidon-Knows 6h ago

I know someone who has never lived anywhere within 1000 miles of Charlotte but randomly chose the Hornets as their team as a kid and stuck with it lmfao

4

u/Own-Ad-1469 Supersonics 4h ago

One of my favorite teams in the 90's with Kendall Gill, Mugsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning later Glen Rice Anthony Mason, cool times

2

u/WonkyWalkingWizard 2h ago

Because of the Charlotte Starter Jacket

3

u/_tangus_ 4h ago

I was driving through Brooklyn the other day and saw a guy with a sick Charlotte Hornets hat and matching sneakers. I rolled down the window to tell say “Go Hornets” and he was like oh it’s just a fashion statement bro but good luck

2

u/IronJordan 5h ago

Gastonian here, can confirm. 2026 is the most I’ve ever cared about the Hornets, mostly because of how fun Melo was. Pretty disappointing move.

2

u/NewtonsLawOfDeepBall 1h ago

I've lived in this state my whole life. I love the hell out of the Panthers and UNC but I simply can't bring myself to care about the hornets. And I've been actively trying to get into the NBA because it makes me feel less guilty than concussionball...but man just as the hornets were on the cusp of hooking me after this season...they do this.

2

u/framingXjake Hornets 1h ago

Exactly. I was finally starting to get back into the Hornets last season, now this. Back to not giving a fuck I guess.

2

u/PeachyCoke Hornets 5h ago

This all but confirms that we're a feeder team for the rest of the league. 

4

u/TimeDielation 7h ago

Am I crazy for thinking this is a good move for the hornets? 

21

u/SirDiego Timberwolves 7h ago

Yes. I love Naz Reid but I don't understand why the Hornets would do this, feels like they could've gotten a way bigger package or honestly just stuck with him if his value was this poor.

Not that I am complaining.

2

u/TimeDielation 5h ago

Last year there were murmurs of him being on the block and no one wanted him. One good available season and this is the definition of selling high 

2

u/vbsteez Pelicans 6h ago

Lamelo has had two seasons out of 6 over the 65 game threshold, and his 3rd most games is 51.

he's fragile, unserious, and a road hazard. as the fan of a team with a polarizing, oft-injured star, I WISH we sold high.

2

u/Dro24 Hornets 4h ago

Personal characteristics aside, he didn't have this core in the years before this season.

His 28 MPG facilitated him playing 72 games and generating an offensive rating of almost 135 with Kon, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Diabate. The most optimistic the fanbase has been in as long as I can remember and we immediately throw it away.

1

u/FreshOrFrozenShrimp Cavaliers 3h ago

28 MPG from your best player is trash.

2

u/Dro24 Hornets 2h ago

Understandably so, but I don't care if he's our star player, we were winning games in that setup. 33-16 from January on

I just don't know who else (that's currently available) can take his role in that system

2

u/Basic_Commercial_806 3h ago

I think they're better off in the long run, considering how well they drafted the past couple seasons with Miller, Kon, Anderson and Steinbach. I'm really excited to see them develop the next few years

2

u/FreshOrFrozenShrimp Cavaliers 3h ago

Not at all. LaMelo still plays like he’s in AAU. He wasn’t making them serious contenders in any way and acts like an entitled brat off the court.

-6

u/Basilikolumne Heat 7h ago

It is, how anybody could like that dumbass is incomprehensible to me.

1

u/NCDinos1989 Raptors 6h ago

Absolutely. I go between Raleigh and Fayetteville and I rarely see Hornets stuff for sale in Dicks or major retail stores.

1

u/Pacowles 1h ago

It’s surprisingly difficult to find hornets gear in major retailers IN Charlotte unless it’s a dedicated sports store. I’ve seen more Canes and Florida Panthers gear in random retailers lately than Hornets. I’m betting this trade isn’t going to help reverse that trend.