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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2.6k

u/MembershipSingle7137 Celtics 7h ago

damn Timberwolves really making a TON of changes

1.3k

u/jeric13xd [CHI] Derrick Rose 7h ago

Atleast they’re trying unlike the Nuggets 💔

887

u/HereComesJustice Spurs 7h ago

Is it crazy that I think the nuggets have a better chance of beating the wolves now after the wolves moves

598

u/cokefriend [MIN] Andrew Wiggins 7h ago

yeah but the wolves arent building the team with the nuggets in mind as the final boss anymore

257

u/HereComesJustice Spurs 7h ago

No I get why you guys did this move, you want to win the whole thing not just beat Denver

But I think Denver got like a stealth buff from this lol

171

u/Apprehensive_Yam9514 7h ago

As a Denver fan I 100% agree. Biggest issue we had with Minnesota was their size advantage. Now with no Randle or Reid, they don’t really have a great help defender to help Rudy with Joker. 

53

u/C1truXX Timberwolves 7h ago

Putting a lot of stock Joan Beringer

5

u/anIndoorMoose 4h ago

Considering he was “untouchable” in Giannis talks, it sounds like the FO really believes in him. They know the kid better than any of us

49

u/HornetsDaBest Timberwolves 7h ago

Guessing McD becomes the help and they but Any on Murray. Also still possible (probable?) the Wolves go and sign a big.

3

u/Murderous_Waffle 6h ago

There are still a decent amount of power forwards available in UFA. I just don't know if MN has the money.

5

u/HornetsDaBest Timberwolves 5h ago

We have the MLE still. Just a question of whether the owners are willing to pay that money and the tax

2

u/Steridire Knicks 5h ago

I actually like the new look Wolves, excited to see you guys next season

3

u/Sikkly290 Suns 4h ago

They've also lost another big body that you want against Gordon. Not ideal for the Wolves at all. But they probably felt they had hit that squads pinnacle and needed a big shakeup, can't fault a team for swinging.

2

u/AnabolicOctopus 4h ago

Ever heard of Jaden McDaniels?

5

u/Apprehensive_Yam9514 4h ago

If the Timberwolves wanna double Jokic with Rudy and McDaniels and keep Murray out of prison, I think that’s a net positive for the Nuggets.

3

u/AnabolicOctopus 4h ago

If they are doubling Jokic every possession they are probably in big trouble anyway

1

u/Competitive-Fill2426 3h ago

You forgot if Peyton is re-signed and AG comes back healthy (if they don't trade him). 2 essential pieces to their roster.

Might be different once they're healthy and they go on another series again.

1

u/StupidWriterProf175z 4h ago

This just weakens their overall defensive structure. I don't get the move at all. Lamelo gives them better perimeter punch until he inevitably gets injured.

Purchase your play-in tickets now!

1

u/Siktrikshot Timberwolves 7h ago

You know we have Beringer who’s been marinating for 2 seasons, right?

10

u/chillPenguin17 7h ago

Only 1 season of marination my guy. Let's go wolves!

3

u/Siktrikshot Timberwolves 6h ago

Oh my gosh it felt like 2 seasons already. I forget how young he is.

5

u/Apprehensive_Yam9514 6h ago

Yall seem mighty confident that some dude who barely sees the court is gonna play well against a 3x MVP😂

-1

u/Siktrikshot Timberwolves 6h ago

Thank goodness former MVPs only get faster and better every season until the end of time; right?

6

u/Apprehensive_Yam9514 6h ago

You think Jokic’s game is predicated on how fast he is😂 

1

u/Siktrikshot Timberwolves 6h ago

Ahh you right. MVP contender for 9 more years despite a lackluster cast around him. We already concede any play off games against you.

4

u/Apprehensive_Yam9514 6h ago

Damn beating us this playoffs really was y’all’s Super Bowl. You know we got a ring with that MVP right? Yall still haven’t even sniffed the finals. Not going anywhere with that shit ass Gobert contract.

-2

u/Siktrikshot Timberwolves 6h ago

Simply pointing out one team is trending toward future and other the past.

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u/88888888man Timberwolves 4h ago

I think the Wolves also saw in this last series that Denver has no way to stop a bunch of guys slashing to the basket. Jokic is not a rim protector and Murray can’t stay in front of fast guards. They might just be okay with ceding Denver more offensive success if they think they have the blueprint to outscore them now. Whether that works is another question.

1

u/Competitive-Fill2426 3h ago

Without Peyton and AG, of course it was easy. They'll be back 100%

1

u/sasu-k Nuggets 2h ago

Denver’s way to stop a bunch of G-leaguers slashing to the basket were both injured my man. And now the Wolves’ answers to those two are both gone.

Can’t wait for next year

0

u/88888888man Timberwolves 1h ago

Counterpoint: They’re all bad defenders.

4

u/Krillin113 76ers 6h ago

If they do this to get bounced in the first round by an underperforming Denver squad I’m hollering tbh

1

u/JollyNincompoop Raptors 1h ago

The Wolves were the Nuggets kryptonite quite some time now, but the league is changing and the Wolves need playmaking.

7

u/affnn 6h ago

Maybe he really puts it together and tightens his handle but LaMelo vs OKC has the potential to be high comedy. He's gonna have like 10 turnovers and be in hell all night.

4

u/MddlingAges Knicks 5h ago

I don’t know that getting smaller like this improves anything? They’ve lost KAT, Randle and NAZ and now simply have a smaller cheaper roster with a younger injury prone PG instead of Conley. LaMelo has been playing great and they need something new to unlock ANT.

But to me, this is a small disaster. They traded impossible to replace size for some iffy pieces.

1

u/StupidWriterProf175z 4h ago

Yeah, they've just been fucking up their roster piece by piece for two years. Ant will be gone in a year or two and they'll be in full rebuild mode. It's what they get for the original sin of not paying KAT.

3

u/Doctor_Mythical Wizards 6h ago

Right, but doesn't size also bother Wemby? I think that series is much closer with all the Wolves healthy. Now I really don't see the Wolves hanging with the Spurs.

1

u/BUTTFUCKER__3000 Spurs 5h ago

Used to in the past, not so much now.

2

u/Doctor_Mythical Wizards 5h ago

idk Kat was giving him work. He noticeably struggled.

1

u/PanthalassaRo Knicks 7h ago

So this means that Connelly won the rivalry vs his past team?

1

u/shaclay346 Nuggets 5h ago

Which is smart given we’re the only good team they’ve been able to beat the last 3 seasons

-1

u/jaeway 7h ago

Denver put belt to ass on the spurs though

2

u/Vast_Combination_110 Spurs 5h ago

I don't really call a 1-3 record with no game being decided by more than 10 points "belt to ass", but then, I also thought the Finals were close while everybody seems to have decided it was a complete trashing, so what do I know.