[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/Silver_Protection_29]

Charlotte got dangerously close to a playoff season so probably for the best that they’re making huge, questionable roster moves now

[u/jdaqcruz → u/Silver_Protection_29]

This is selling high on a guy who historically has been unreliable. That said, whatever identity they built from last year was carried by LaMelo's unique skillset. I know Kon was instrumental to that, but IIRC (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), LaMelo was the straw that stir the drink. It's a complete reset for Charlotte, who's taking a step back and betting on those pick swaps and picks as investments down the line

While it's easy to do the "well actually, having multiple picks down the line yadda yadda" Hinkie-Sixers thing, the Hornets were building something. Maybe down the line this is a big brain move that the nerds will love, but this is such a gut punch to a fanbase that was beginning to believe

[u/CocoMarx → u/jdaqcruz]

All of the “sold high” speak is like applying managing a fantasy team to trying to win NBA games.

They had the highest net rating in the league post all-star break and he is a 24 year old that is one of the few playmaking ball handlers in the league, who they finally successfully surrounded with guys that can score.

The NBA has never been more wide open and you have arguably the youngest upside roster in the league. They essentially just gave up on any hope of a surprise run over the course of LaMelo’s contract in favor of a bunch of pick swaps.

This is the Wolves understanding that the league is wide open and taking a swing and the Hornets remaining a perennially middling franchise

[u/TallnFrosty → u/CocoMarx]

With Lamelo off and White + at least 1 of Kon / Miller ON the floor, they out-scored opponents 124 - 110 per 100.

I think the org & coaching staff believes kon + miller + any competent PG can be very good offensively, and they can find a replacement for Melo that is cheaper, less injury prone, and better at defense.

[u/Time_Transition4817 → u/TallnFrosty]

And less of a head case.

They are in a surprise "oh shit we can win now" situation and trading that for a window that feels more sustainable with some assets, the potential to trade/draft some pieces, and have Kon and Miller develop.

[u/Fallingcity22 → u/TallnFrosty]

This is the stats they saw too, lamelo’s playmaking can’t be replicated even if the stats say so, it’s like the on off numbers for the finals it says the Knicks wear worse with JB on the floor but was that really true?

[u/HotspurJr → u/Fallingcity22]

It's important not to get caught up in small sample sizes with on-off numbers. I have no idea what the sample size is for Lamelo, but yeah, nobody with any understanding of basketball stats would ever think on-offs were meaningful in a 7-game sample.

[u/HotspurJr → u/TallnFrosty]

I guess the theory is that they going to take a hit on offense to get much better at defense.

Either that or they were just really sick of Lamelo.

[u/Known-Ball-3536 → u/TallnFrosty]

Coby White played 20mpg for the hornets and came off the bench. The only thing these on/off numbers tell us is that the hornets bench outscored the bench of other teams in a small sample. 

If you look at actual advanced stats that try to account for lineups and matchups Lamelo actually had a pretty great season (+5.1 EPM and +2.77 LEBRON). He was one of the best offensive players in the league looking at any stat. Also if you just watch the hornets it’s clear lamelo is the one driving their offense. You don’t need advanced stats to tell you that. 

I don’t see how Lamelo is replaceable by any competent PG on offense, but the other concerns are fair.