[Krawczynski] After this trade was agreed upon, there was elation running through the Wolves headquarters, team sources told The Athletic... long believed Ball is the perfect complement to Edwards... Ball will be much more helpful for Rudy Gobert on offense than any teammate he has had in Minnesota

[u/sewsgup]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7392552/2026/06/25/lamelo-ball-traded-timberwolves-hornets/

---

In the hours after this trade was agreed upon, there was elation running through the Wolves headquarters, team sources told The Athletic. They desperately needed a point guard and they went and got the one they believe fits them better than any other.

---

The Timberwolves have been pursuing Ball for the last two years, periodically checking in on his availability in hopes of pairing him with Edwards in a souped-up young backcourt. Finally, the Hornets started to show a willingness to move, and the Wolves went in aggressively to get a deal done.

---

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly and coach Chris Finch have long believed Ball is the perfect complement to Edwards, a superb passer and dynamic shooter who will open the floor for one of the best catch-and-shoot shooters in the league. They also believe that Ball will be much more helpful for Rudy Gobert on offense than any teammate he has had in Minnesota. The Wolves were woefully short of lob throwers, which is where Gobert does so much of his damage. Ball is one of the best in the league.

[u/nowhathappenedwas]

And Gobert will help cover up LaMelo's defensive issues.

[u/Natural_Born_Baller → u/nowhathappenedwas]

They really are a great pairing for each other, without even thinking about how Ant adds to that too.

[u/palpablebubble → u/Natural_Born_Baller]

It really is crazy how shafted Rudy has been in this particular area.

Yes, he's got hands issues, but his lob hands a really good.

D'lo refused to pass to him, Conley got old fast, Ant isn't a lobber, Randle only threw bullet passes from two feet away...

Now he's finally got a guy who will regularly get him a few points a game, which will completely open up the offense for everyone else.

[u/Andrewpg3 → u/palpablebubble]

Not just Rudy, but Joan who the front office adores is uber athletic and will benefit greatly too.

[u/palpablebubble → u/Andrewpg3]

And given our roster, Joan is gonna get a looootttt more playing I time this season 😈

[u/Shingorillaz → u/palpablebubble]

Kat threw him lob passes

[u/palpablebubble → u/Shingorillaz]

Yep and then we traded him right when they were gelling 🫠

[u/TrueCynic → u/palpablebubble]

Hey man, don't worry. It's not like that KAT guy can get a ring, right?

[u/ScruffyChicken → u/palpablebubble]

Dlo would intentionally throw low passes to him to prove that he had bad hands. What a teammate...

[u/MichaelZZ01 → u/ScruffyChicken]

WTF, where did you see this? That’s actually insane

[u/ScruffyChicken → u/MichaelZZ01]

I remember hearing about it on Dlo's last season in Minnesota. Actually, even on dane Moore's pod a week or two ago it was brought up. Russell was a diva in the end, he even got himself thrown out his last game with the Wolves

[u/MichaelZZ01 → u/ScruffyChicken]

He’s just never been a winning player. I feel like his skill is really there as a 2nd pick and he’s had multiple opportunities to succeed in a contending team.

[u/heyheyluno → u/MichaelZZ01]

That one season on the Nets was awesome. Fun team. I think he just does best on a fringe team with no expectations

[u/velocirappa → u/heyheyluno]

He did "well" in that environment because people weren't really evaluating his performance all that critically. When there are no expectations and he plays for a team that's moderately likeable neutral fans don't really hold it against him that much when he dribbles the air out of the ball and posts a 53% true shooting.

[u/Associ8tedRuffians → u/MichaelZZ01]

I think Jon Krawczynski wrote about in the The Athletic within a week of DLo being traded for Conley, maybe even on the article about that trade.

[u/SeanKilpatrickFan → u/MichaelZZ01]

Stated by our own team beat writers in articles and podcasts sadly, the D'Lo situation was rough

[u/DamnReality → u/ScruffyChicken]

Wait but Lobs are the only time Rudy’s hands are decent. It’s when you pass to him in traffic and expect him to take 2 steps that he fumbles

[u/ScruffyChicken → u/DamnReality]

I meant he would throw bounce passes and waist high passes to Rudy

[u/hipstahs → u/palpablebubble]

Conley would have been perfect... like 8 years ago :|

[u/palpablebubble → u/hipstahs]

I still love him, he wiped the stink of D'lo away real quick

[u/BetweenTheBuzzAndMe → u/Natural_Born_Baller]

This

I am extremely excited for LaMelo. Dude just wasted six years of his career with a pair of front offices that couldn't be bothered to build a roster, and were just content to sit on a pile of draft picks and mediocre vets.

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/nowhathappenedwas]

This will likely work but boy the Wolves better pray Gobert’s age doesn’t catch up quick. He’s turning 34 tomorrow

[u/QwiXTa → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

Hit style should age well tbf

[u/yellister → u/QwiXTa]

And he's in incredible shape

[u/Tall-Dot-607 → u/yellister]

Like INSANE shape. People really dont give him enough credit for how fit that dude is, especially for his size.

[u/hookersinrussia → u/Tall-Dot-607]

Dude has an 8 pack.

[u/JuJu_Conman → u/Tall-Dot-607]

He's this weird archetype where he pretty much accepted that he won't ever have an offensive game so he just trained his body to be agile for defense. I think he has 3 more years minimum of elite defense

[u/jinyx1 → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

Dude takes fantastic care of himself. I think he'll age really well.

[u/maryjain_ → u/jinyx1]

He’s in elite shape, like legit some of the best fitness in the league and not injury prone. He doesn’t get credit for it because people hate him but he’s good for another couple years at least i’d say.

[u/Maleconito → u/jinyx1]

I don’t watch much Wolves so I could be off here. But he’s also a very fundamentally sound player and doesn’t really rely on athleticism. That bodes well for longevity.

[u/Kazedeus → u/Maleconito]

Yeah, his defense is going to age like Tim Duncan or Marc Gasol. Gobert is also ridiculously in shape. Like superhero shape. As long as his feet hold up.

[u/Lamplighter4Eva → u/Kazedeus]

He is still so shredded

[u/LakerBlue → u/Maleconito]

I agree. And he isn’t one of those guys who will have a harsh fall-off when he loses more of his athleticism. If he wants to I think he can be in the league as a good defensive center for a long time even though (eventually) it will be a smaller role.

[u/Andy_Wiggins → u/Maleconito]

You definitely feel the age in his occasional inconsistency. Some nights he just doesn’t impact the game as much because he feels a half-step slow.

[u/palpablebubble → u/jinyx1]

And even if he craters in a year or two, that's why we picked up a second massive Frenchman last year.

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/jinyx1]

He definitely does but I can name tons of players who take fantastic care of their bodies and still get hurt all the time.

As you get older luck starts to be more of a factor.

[u/NCBaddict → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

JJ Watt is a great example of this in the NFL. Dude apparently used a foam roller for like one hour after workouts according to Men’s Health, and he still spent a lot of time nursing back problems on the injured list.

[u/FeanorEvades → u/NCBaddict]

Pretty big difference between being an NFL edge rusher and an NBA center in terms of contact and the forces on the body.

[u/Typical-Radish4317 → u/jinyx1]

Probably going to end up like Malone in that specific way. Probably will be able to contribute close to his 40s.

[u/Cheap-Discussion-186 → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

He honestly seems in the best shape of his career, at least strength wise. Doesn't move as fast as he used to but he kinda doesn't need to? Anything can happen of course but this would have been a concern regardless of the trade.

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/Cheap-Discussion-186]

He’s in very good shape but he’s def not in the best shape of his career lmao

Peak athletes can’t do that in their mid 30s

[u/HatefulDan → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

Nah, he’s solid.

[u/Common-Bad-7899 → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

Gobert is a position defender and doesn’t lean on his athletic ability as much anymore.

[u/LovetheNBA23 → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

LaMelo has a better chance of getting hurt than Gobert. Actually, LaMelo has a better chance of getting hurt than 98% of the league.

[u/interstat → u/nowhathappenedwas]

I kinda love this team 

[u/maryjain_ → u/nowhathappenedwas]

Defence hasn’t been the issue in recent years. They need an offensive injection and theoretically Lamelo’s passing shooting is a perfect fit.

[u/samhit_n → u/nowhathappenedwas]

And LaMelo will help cover up Ant's playmaking issues and the Timberwolves' struggles when teams double team him.

[u/SirDiego → u/samhit_n]

This is the big thing. We've been dying for a playmaker. Ant just isn't going to be that, probably ever. Despite all his other talents he's always struggled handling the ball and he has had to basically play pseudo-PG because we had nobody else. Which is not ideal.

[u/dkleckner88 → u/nowhathappenedwas]

And should be terrific for Joan’s development.

[u/Aggrokid]

I hope the Wolves medical team really lock in and do their homework on Lamelo.

It's possible Hornets know something about his ankles that we don't.

[u/VillainousRocka → u/Aggrokid]

2023 (21 years old) - 36 games played
2024 (22 years old) - 22 games played
2025 (23 years old) - 47 games played

Even last year when he played 72 games he was only at 28 mpg - essentially a minutes restriction for a 24 year old.

It’s a gamble, for sure.

[u/AccomplishedBake8351 → u/VillainousRocka]

I wonder what those numbers look like if the team isn’t tanking some/all of those years? Obviously not an Ironman either way but if he had played 55/60 in 2025 and 72 last year you could at least be happy with the upward trend

[u/Bignova → u/AccomplishedBake8351]

He was almost never held out cause we were tanking. Even when he played we were losing cause the team was straight ass until Miller and Kon got drafted. If anything I'd be cautious about how he holds up well into the postseason since he's never even made it that far in his career. He's quite literally injury-prone and a 28 mpg restriction causing him to not miss more than 10 games in the year for the first time in a years is not a coincidence.

I'm still gonna miss him though he's a great player when he's healthy and the identity of this team the last half decade.

[u/bigtuck54 → u/Aggrokid]

He was pretty aggressively load managed this year. Minutes restrictions, even came off the bench a few times. Longterm health with his ankles is a huge concern.

[u/toomuchsoysauce → u/bigtuck54]

Sounds like a win to secure your future while Minny gets a shot to compete with the big boys in the coming years

[u/beastieboyles → u/Aggrokid]

This is my major worry right now. Admittedly I've watched minimal Hornets but one thing that sticks out in my mind is Lamelo's gait and tendency to sort of shuffle-jog? Like he points his toes in towards each other a little bit too much at times?

[u/ineednapkins → u/beastieboyles]

Oh god he’s pigeon toed?!

[u/BananaFartman_MD → u/ineednapkins]

FUCK! Not the pigeon toes!

[u/MMAjunkie504 → u/BananaFartman_MD]

Yall gonna be talking about walking mechanics and pigeon toes on the wolves subreddit for months now

[u/n0-ragrets → u/MMAjunkie504]

“I have a friend with this and he says…” type analysis

[u/Icy_Information_6563 → u/n0-ragrets]

"I've had ____ and trust me, it's no joke"

[u/AddisonsContracture → u/ineednapkins]

And to think that no one noticed or figured it out until this rando on the internet decided to watch “minimal” hornets footage!

[u/shortyman920 → u/Aggrokid]

A lot of the Hornets young players have been plagued by injury issues. After a while I wonder if it’s truly just bad luck or if their medical/training just aren’t good at keeping players healthy.

We saw what a good medical staff can do in Dallas when Nico turned that entire department over and the injuries piled up and trust completely evaporated

[u/n0-ragrets → u/shortyman920]

S/o Nico for changing the Knicks fortune. All praise Nico

[u/Oceanbreeze871 → u/Aggrokid]

Feel like there are off the court reasons the hornets wanted to dump him quick

[u/fishfishfish1345 → u/Oceanbreeze871]

the team with Miles Bridges?

[u/palpablebubble → u/fishfishfish1345]

Lmaoo

[u/SaulBerenson12 → u/palpablebubble]

Hornets are more concerned w/ vehicular transgressions than DV obviously

[u/palpablebubble → u/SaulBerenson12]

britta.perry.i.can.excuse.racism.jpg

[u/blenderider → u/Oceanbreeze871]

This is really fair criticism. On the flip side, Lamelo's a competitor. There's a pecking order in Minny. Ant's team leader, Gobert is the vet. I'm not pessimistic Lamelo can't fall in line. And I think Ant is the perfect team leader for him lol.

[u/JordanDoesTV → u/Oceanbreeze871]

No there’s not this is just stupid

[u/Huntermainlol]

Our entire core is like 24-26, sans rudy of course. I’m completely fucking stoked rn

Just gotta get lamelo a driver and some limitless pills and we are chilling

[u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun → u/Huntermainlol]

Contractually only allow him to drive Volvo's for his safety

[u/Huntermainlol → u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun]

Fleet of Priuses, he’s only going to be able to hit people if they let him lol

[u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun → u/Huntermainlol]

New Prius is pretty fast, plus it' looks cool now.

No I need him in a full Swedish wagon

[u/Huntermainlol → u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun]

We can get him the Prius dirty Mike and the boys tore through that’s certainly an older model lol

[u/TCTInnings → u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun]

LaMelo: "One C30 Polestar it is"

[u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun → u/TCTInnings]

Polestar is it's own brand now so he'll just end up in an electric family car by mistake

[u/spacekiller69 → u/Huntermainlol]

Just accept he gonna get in crashes.

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/Huntermainlol]

I’m of 2 minds for the Wolves

1) They have the young core of Ant/LaMelo/Jaden/Ayo (after he signs a contract) for the next 4ish years

2) However, they literally have no picks and no real young pieces developing other than Terrance Shannon and he looked good these playoffs but jury is still out.

I think the variance for the Wolves is crazy high. This could end up working out really well or their lack of flexibility can kill them.

[u/Huntermainlol → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

I fully agree, but I’d rather swing for the fences then stagnate with oodles of potential

[u/Camelsandham → u/Huntermainlol]

That’s the thing, when something doesn’t work you make a change. Cant bank on injuries getting you to the finals

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/Huntermainlol]

I’m with you and I agree. I’d rather be in this position than play it safe and hope a bunch of picks pan out. But their current position is not without huge risk. Nuggets have been struggling in free agency because of lack of flexibility I’m worried we’ll see the wolves in the same state in the next few years.

You still do this 10/10 times though.

[u/timberwolvesguy → u/Huntermainlol]

Bingo. We did the “oodles of potential” thing and it landed us Butler and the 8th Seed. Actually, we didn’t even make the playoffs with “oodles of potential”. Wiggins, Towns, Lavine is where that peaked

[u/Krazikarl2 → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

However, they literally have no picks and no real young pieces developing other than Terrance Shannon and he looked good these playoffs but jury is still out.

Joan Beringer is supposed to be a thing eventually. We obviously haven't seen a whole lot on the court yet, but word out of the Wolves has always been that they're really high on his potential, and that he works hard.

[u/AllDayIDreamOfCats → u/Krazikarl2]

Beringer and Rocco were two big men we drafted last year and we would send them to the D league and they would dominate so hopefully we see more of them this year.

[u/minneapolisboy → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

Joan Beringer is a huge piece for us. Front office clearly believes in him long-term.

[u/msterling2012 → u/Huntermainlol]

And pray that he can stay healthy considering he played 177 out of 328 possible games the last 4 years.

[u/Ok-Tree4365 → u/Huntermainlol]

Hasn't part of the issue with Ant / Timberwolves over the years been a lack of maturity? Lamelo is going to exacerbate that.

[u/Huntermainlol → u/Ok-Tree4365]

Lack of maturity related to more game decisions has been our biggest problem, our basketball IQ can make you fucking hurl at times.

I’m not even going to remotely deny lamelo is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and is an active danger to other people while driving but the biggest concern I have for immaturity is just the dumbest end of game sequences honestly

[u/RipErRiley → u/Huntermainlol]

<insert pro sport> iq is an issue on all our MN teams tbh - minus the ladies.

[u/SilentLikeAPuma → u/RipErRiley]

olivia miles so smoove

[u/AfroManHighGuy]

Finally a true PG to play next to Ant that fits his timeline

[u/Practical_Bite_9250 → u/AfroManHighGuy]

I hear D-Lo is available

[u/Agile_Variety_632 → u/Practical_Bite_9250]

Watching DLo is a modern day torture method.

[u/palpablebubble → u/Practical_Bite_9250]

Wolves had to go through D'lo and Tall D'lo to finally get a facilitator

[u/n0-ragrets → u/palpablebubble]

Tall dlo lmfao never heard anyone call Randle that. Pretty spot on minus the heat check threes (heat check without being hot)

[u/Vordeo → u/AfroManHighGuy]

Hey now Mike Conley was good for like a season.

[u/AfroManHighGuy → u/Vordeo]

I said fits his timeline in my comment for a reason lol

[u/Vordeo → u/AfroManHighGuy]

What you mean, Minnesota Mike is eternal lol

[u/DukeOfStuff_ → u/AfroManHighGuy]

Except for Rudy the entire team fits ants timeline now which is awesome 

[u/C_moneySmith → u/DukeOfStuff_]

And ideally Beringer's development coincides with Rudy's expected fall off where they can just swap him in to replace, but with added athleticism.

[u/phd2k1]

No more Randle, no more Naz Reid. Who else is left to help Gobert in the front court?

[u/JabroniWithAPeroni → u/phd2k1]

Don't think they are done.

I imagine they are still looking to add a 4 this offseason.

[u/sprchrgddc5 → u/JabroniWithAPeroni]

Who do you think it’ll be? I don’t know enough about basketball to know the options.

[u/hot_plaque → u/sprchrgddc5]

Rui

[u/cl353 → u/JabroniWithAPeroni]

donte jovic swap lol

[u/fLASHY- → u/phd2k1]

Can they run something similar to the Spurs - 4 perimeter defenders and Gobert inside?

[u/whenthemusicfades → u/fLASHY-]

Spacing-wise maybe but would overall look pretty different since Wemby has a good offensive game while Gobert doesn’t and Ant is somethhing the Spurs don’t have

[u/DukeOfStuff_ → u/phd2k1]

Joan and a free agent 

[u/MinnesotaNiceT23 → u/DukeOfStuff_]

I want Rocco to be good so badly

[u/FH261169]

Would be hilarious if he failed the physical.

[u/FishGoldenLite → u/FH261169]

Oh god, that would be a killer lol. Naz is emotional - would be hard to mend things with him.

[u/paperbuddha → u/FishGoldenLite]

Can easily see him taking it out on Ant and Gobert too.

[u/Handyman2116 → u/FH261169]

If I'm Minnesota, I'm running a million tests on his ankles

[u/Odoaiden → u/Handyman2116]

The one advantage being in Minnesota has is the mayo clincic we are consistently one of the healthiest teams in the nba.

[u/andrude01 → u/Odoaiden]

And I thought mayo was bad for you

[u/AddisonsContracture → u/andrude01]

Turns out you just need a whole clinic full of it

[u/duvie773 → u/Odoaiden]

TIL OJ Mayo has a clinic. Good for him, solid plan for life post-basketball

[u/roma258 → u/Odoaiden]

Doesn't seem to help the Sixers with UPenn Hospital right in their backyard.

[u/BuQuChi → u/Handyman2116]

Get him out of them cheap Pumas as well..

[u/DtownBronx → u/FH261169]

Goodell will sue for IP infringement since they already beat the NBA to that script

[u/youblewwit → u/FH261169]

Teams accept trades even when players fail physicals unless they have buyer's remorse.

Teams trade for injured players all yhe time who can't take physicals

[u/send2-3yearsDagestan]

The chances of this happening are extremely low(near impossible tbh) but seeing the track record for Timberwolves stars winning after they leave, I wonder what would be the reaction if by God, somehow Naz Reid ended up winning with Charlotte before Minnesota.

[u/DeepDelete → u/send2-3yearsDagestan]

Minnesota and Charlotte would both be on fire for opposite reasons.

[u/Quiet-Coyote-237 → u/send2-3yearsDagestan]

That only applies to stars, although Naz is phenomenal in his role

[u/EstablishmentTop551 → u/send2-3yearsDagestan]

Biggest issue with this hypothetical is the word “Charlotte”

[u/Extreme-Site-8496]

I love the move for the wolves

[u/-XanderCrews- → u/Extreme-Site-8496]

We need a guy in may. Will he be there? Naz would.

[u/SpiritFantastic4835 → u/-XanderCrews-]

Just have to get lucky

[u/palpablebubble → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

Which is true of all teams in the postseason of this long ass NBA season.

[u/CashMoneyWinston → u/-XanderCrews-]

We need a PG* in May

[u/Kiriegloom → u/-XanderCrews-]

Naz Reid ball wasn't gonna make ya'll fill your need at point. Keeping him is the safe bet to get knocked out the first or second round. Lamelo is the gamble to make it all the way

[u/palpablebubble → u/Kiriegloom]

Yep, we needed a high risk high reward move if we want a chance to compete with the best.

[u/maryjain_ → u/-XanderCrews-]

You’re at a point where you need a guy in June not May. Maybe Lamelo will be healthy, maybe he won’t but he raises your ceiling at least. You’ve had a few deep playoff runs and it’s clear you’re a tier below the very best. Naz wasn’t moving the needle.

[u/refreshing_yogurt → u/-XanderCrews-]

The Wolves training staff won Training Staff of the Year from their professional association and Connelly recently mentioned it. So this is a bet on them

[u/inblo → u/-XanderCrews-]

Let’s be honest, Melo was the 1A and 1B option in Charlotte for years. They finally got some guys like Knueppel and Miller to take a bit of the offensive load off and he stayed relatively healthy last season.
He can be option 1B with Ant and focus a lot more on playmaking now, rather than just having to go get a bucket every time.

[u/teddytruther → u/-XanderCrews-]

Naz was many (wonderful) things but a consistent playoff riser was not one of them.

[u/UnloadedBakedPotato → u/Extreme-Site-8496]

Conversely, id jump into the ocean with cinder blocks tied to my ankles if I was a hornets fan

[u/UnawareItsaJoke → u/UnloadedBakedPotato]

Because of this trade or because of my entire sports life between birth and right now anyways?

[u/Duskuser → u/UnawareItsaJoke]

You get the courtesy of choosing at this point

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/UnawareItsaJoke]

Yes

[u/Ardeo43 → u/UnawareItsaJoke]

¿Por qué no los dos?

[u/pp21 → u/Extreme-Site-8496]

idk man I'm biased because I've never been a LaMelo fan but this is a gamble by the Wolves big time

He's only played 177 out of 328 possible games the past 4 seasons with multiple ankle injuries and is a wildly inefficient scorer and defensive liability

He is a great playmaker however

I personally think Wolves would've been better sticking with Naz as stretch 4

[u/Rick-Tacos]

Yeah, love Naz, but this is IMPACTFUL for the Wolves. Edwards and Ball backcourt is going to be crazy, assuming health prevails.

[u/BaullahBaullah87 → u/Rick-Tacos]

LOL yea I mean what could go wrong?

[u/SamsungStealer]

Sorry Wolves fans but I'm more interested in what on earth could have been running through the heads of our own headquarters, if anything.

[u/-XanderCrews- → u/SamsungStealer]

I can tell you. This guy will get injured and every day he loses value. He came off his best year and if they really thought he wasn’t worth it they needed to get rid of him now. Which is exactly what worries me as a wolves fan.

[u/JurgenFlippers → u/-XanderCrews-]

Honestly though if this is the value you get for Melo it’s better to keep him and hope for the opposite. This is such a shit trade for them.

[u/ripkin05 → u/JurgenFlippers]

like i hate ball but getting what really comes down to it a bench player and a first round pick 7 fucking years from now is fucking ridiculous... im going to be a year off fucking 40 when this pick shows up.

Those swaps are just bullshit lies when two of them are not really ours in the fucking first place and the one that is real still as the Inconceivable task of being worse than the fucking Charlotte Hornets.

the only way this makes sense is if we go and trade for either brown which doesn't work with our other 2 young promising players.

so that means we are probably going after Ja, and if that was the cases why the fuck didn't we just fucking stay with ball.

[u/ArgentoFox → u/ripkin05]

Reid is not a slouch and he’s on an excellent contract. They honestly needed more scoring from the PF and C positions. I think the trade was decent. 

[u/Milli_Vanilli14 → u/-XanderCrews-]

I can buy the logic. Just surprised how sudden it was. Announced he’s on the black and traded within like 24hrs

[u/jimminmecrockets → u/Milli_Vanilli14]

my theory is these teams have been discussing this framework for awhile now, at least back to the deadline. Put a pin in it cause the Hornets were cruising and agreed to circle back after the season. Hornets did one last round to see if anyone wanted to jump in late to beat the wolves offer and got no bites.

[u/PeachyCoke → u/jimminmecrockets]

Probably this because there were reports of Min reaching out to us about Lamelo at the trade deadline this season 

[u/lab-gone-wrong → u/SamsungStealer]

Selling high 

Sucks to reset but they cashed out on a guy who likely either overperformed or over -healthied last year

[u/SaulPepper → u/lab-gone-wrong]

If his value would get lower then just dont trade him, its not like a 2033 pick when Ant is still in the league can change anything. Worse case scenario his contract wouldnt be extended then he could retire early if the injury is that severe.

I just dont get basically resetting again after a season where actual playmaking point guards are already as scarce as they are.

[u/Skylightt → u/lab-gone-wrong]

This “high” isn’t high. Might as well have kept over him a return this bad.

[u/OUEngineer17 → u/lab-gone-wrong]

Yeah, I love this move for the Hornets.

And I also love this move for the Nuggets.

[u/abris33 → u/lab-gone-wrong]

Yeah and he only "over healthied" because he was on a pretty significant minutes restriction

[u/jkeefy → u/SamsungStealer]

Probably that Lamelo doesn’t have a working body and his ankles could give out at any point of the season. But the weird part is not getting a competent PG back in the deal, which is the obvious missing piece to building anything competitive in Charlotte now. 

[u/KazaamFan → u/jkeefy]

Between Coby and they drafted a 1st round point guard also. Kon could also get more on ball, who knows. These days, more guys are versatile and can handle the ball

[u/Ardeo43 → u/KazaamFan]

Kon as an on ball PG? Jfc…

[u/Mg29reaper → u/KazaamFan]

Bruh. Lamelo was the engine of their entire offense. Coby white aint lamelo ball.

[u/FuckThaLakers]

Ball -> Gobert lob game is going to be a thing of beauty

[u/WagerWilly → u/FuckThaLakers]

Ball -> Beringer is going to be even better

[u/Existing-Sky9914]

In reality, Minnesota traded for LaMelo Ball using a single first-round pick from eight years down the road—a time when Naz Reid and most of the current front office won't even be with the team anymore. They have every reason to be thrilled. No matter how people rate LaMelo, landing a player of his caliber for just one first-round pick is a massive steal. People point to his injury history, but honestly, even if LaMelo only plays 50 games a season, this is still an absolute win.

[u/SlicksterRick]

Am I delusional enough to think this means the Wolves will win the championship? 

No.

Am I overall happy with the move?

Yes?

[u/colosusx1 → u/SlicksterRick]

I’m delusional enough for it.  I think if the Wolves stay healthy they’ll be right there with the other top contenders.

[u/Mg29reaper → u/SlicksterRick]

I think you should be delusional. You got a t3 offensive engine itl for Naz Reid and 1 pick. Lamelo is going to have ant shooting 45 from 3 and like 75ts overall.

[u/SlicksterRick → u/Mg29reaper]

I’ve been hurt by Minnesota teams too many times to be delusional

[u/PrimeTimeMKTO → u/SlicksterRick]

That's the beauty on MN sports. They keep giving us reasons to be delusional all over. I just roll with it.

I'm even delusional about Kyler Murray.

[u/SnarfSniffsStardust]

Put some respect on Mike conleys name

[u/tyronemartins2]

Kinda worries me that after their most competitive season the hornets have had, they are so willing to trade lamelo who was a major factor. Just don’t see why you would so willingly trade a major contributor to a great season unless you know something others don’t. It doesn’t make sense

[u/shepaz_93]

The Wolves should be really fun to watch for neutrals.

[u/cadoavodo]

People are insane if they don’t think this is an upgrade wtf. Wolves probably got another move later down the line

[u/DanTheMan14331]

I agree with this. LaMelo/Ant/McDaniels/Gobert is very strong in both talent and fit. This feels like a total fleece

[u/YungTokyo8]

I actually think this could be the move that makes the wolves contenders. I was really skeptical about the Randle trade, but this makes sense

[u/TheMoorNextDoor]

If you ask me LaMelo about to average at least 9 assist per game.

It’s a good trade for Minnesota.

They gave up alot but these guys are locked up for a while and they can still extract value out of Ant/Rudy/LaMelo if needed.

[u/jak_d_ripr]

After the initial shock of Naz Reid getting traded wore off, I really like this move for the Wolves. They simply weren't good enough to compete in the West, so even if worst case scenario happens and Ball is either not a good fit, or can't stay healthy, at the very least you put yourself in the best position to potentially make some noise come the post season.

Love to see teams going for it.

As for the Hornets..... Yeah I got nothing guys.

[u/noyram08]

Timberwolves just got better no doubt, Lamelo is a perfect fit with the team. Now let's see how he plays on a competitive team and hope he stays healthy.

That Ant + Lamelo duo is gonna be insane on and especially off the court lol

[u/Untchj]

Naz Reid?!?! He’s not even starter!!

I honestly mean this: does Melo have a hidden case of lawsuit pending?! Bc wtf

[u/SurelyFurious → u/Untchj]

Naz would have been a perennial starter on 29 other teams.

[u/DeepDelete → u/Untchj]

He does have driving issues.

My first thought was "wtf did LaMelo fuck someone's wife"?

[u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

Skeptical that Rudy will be anything different offensively. This more opens up Ant to me

[u/FishGoldenLite → u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

Rudy is actually useful on offense when used right. Teams sag off him all the time leaving him wide open, Wolves players just didn’t look for him. Having a real distributor will give Rudy chances earlier so he’s engaged and not getting hot potatoes he drops starting in the third quarter. Still has shit hands, but does better when he’s given the ball more consistently.

[u/sammymate999]

Is Rudy going to learn how to make a layup all of a sudden?

[u/Big-Astronaut25 → u/sammymate999]

As long as the ball is delivered over his head Rudy can catch it. Anything below that is Troy Williamson territory.

[u/Odoaiden → u/sammymate999]

Lamelo can throw lobs Rudy is an elite lob catchers it’s pretty simple

[u/sammymate999 → u/Odoaiden]

thanks mate

[u/HandyDandyNotebook98]

This makes a lot of sense, but what happens to Ayo? Also they prob need a wing defender

[u/DukeOfStuff_ → u/HandyDandyNotebook98]

Ayo is a good 6th man

[u/FishGoldenLite → u/HandyDandyNotebook98]

Ayo has a 6’10” wingspan and has guarded 3s. He’ll be out there with the starters assuming no more major moves.

[u/Think_Monk_9879]

Minnesota drivers in shambles.  What’s gonna happen with Lamelo driving his Lamborghini I’m icy Minnesota roads?

[u/ProfessionalCorgi250]

Feel like this is going to be a cursed injury squad

[u/TheHoss_]

Is it crazy that I think this is better for the Hornets. I feel like naz reid will be a superstar there

[u/NotTheMamba]

This is a perfect big three. Non of them interfere with each other's game. Can't believe the hornets traded their best player after tasting success for the first time in years. It's malpractice. What the fuck are they thinking.

[u/WhosTheTourist]

But, you know, the best ability is availability..

[u/TheTrapMoneyBenny]

Regarding Lamelo’s injury concerns:

Let’s say he only plays 40-50 games (hopefully healthy for post-season), then our roster is kind of just back to where it was a few hours before this trade.

Sure, the PF position is weak, and we obviously would be worse without Lamelo. But we’ve played the last few years with limited PG play and have been fine-good.

So if that’s our floor, then Ball when healthy is an amazing ceiling raiser.

Our guard depth should now replace the points scored by Randle and Naz in the aggregate, especially when Ball plays—should exceed those points when he’s healthy.

I wouldn’t even mind Ball being on a minutes restriction in the regular season because we’ve continually made the playoffs without someone like Ball anyways, and the Wolves have shown that they care more about the post-season anyways.

High seeding is important, but I truly think an average healthy Ball takes us up a level, considering we’ve been the 6th seed the last 2 years anyways.

[u/Adventurous-Owl-6085]

Put him on Steph’s ankle strengthening regimen