MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves paid a hefty price to bring LaMelo Ball to the Twin Cities.
The franchise gave up two reliable power forwards and a collection of draft picks — a sacrifice the organization felt was justified as it continues pushing toward the ultimate goal of an NBA championship.
“I think he’ll elevate us,” said president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, “and our environment will be conducive to his continued growth as well.”
Minnesota was eager to add a true point guard to the roster and take some of the ballhandling and playmaking pressure off superstar Anthony Edwards. To do so, the Wolves had to part with significant pieces.
The deal involved four teams — Minnesota, Brooklyn, Charlotte, and Chicago. The Wolves landed Ball along with guard Josh Green. In return, they shipped out fan favorite Naz Reid and a substantial draft package to the Hornets, including an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, first-round swap rights in 2028, 2029, and 2030, along with second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033.
Second-leading scorer Julius Randle headed to the Nets, who also exchanged the 28th overall pick in last month’s draft for the 33rd selection, which became guard Isaiah Evans. That portion of the trade also freed up enough salary cap room for Minnesota to re-sign guard Ayo Dosunmu.
Edwards was the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Ball was taken third. Green went 18th to Dallas, and McDaniels was selected 28th — meaning the Wolves now have four first-round picks from that draft class on their roster.
“Well, we have none for the next 10 years,” Connelly joked at Tuesday’s introductory press conference for Ball and Green at Target Center. “It’s all about quality, not quantity, right?”
All four of those 2020 draftees are 25 or younger, giving the organization confidence in its ability to remain competitive for years to come. Connelly described the situation as having multiple “bites at the apple” while Edwards remains on the team.
“I’ve known Ant for a minute, so we’ve been talking,” Ball said. “Everybody’s excited, and we’re ready to get to work.”
Ball appeared in just 43% of games over a three-year stretch from 2022 to 2025 due to injuries, but bounced back with a strong 2025-26 campaign that helped push Charlotte into the play-in tournament. He has shown a tendency for undisciplined moments at times, but at 24 years old and 6-foot-7, he’ll now be surrounded by a far stronger supporting cast than he ever had with the Hornets.
“You’ve got to have a big backcourt. We learned that through the playoffs this year,” head coach Chris Finch said.
Beyond Ball’s on-court skills, the Wolves are counting on his carefree attitude to shift the team’s culture. Last season ended in a second-round exit to San Antonio, and one of the issues was a collective moodiness — players taking too long to move past bad games or rough stretches.
“This is supposed to be fun,” Connelly said. “He enjoys life. He enjoys playing. You don’t want to make this anything but where it’s a joyous atmosphere.”
The roster holes left by Randle and Reid’s departures could potentially be filled by a high-profile free agent who has reportedly listed Minnesota among his preferred destinations. The city’s tourism arm, Meet Minneapolis, even put up digital billboards in Los Angeles as a playful recruiting pitch aimed at LeBron James.
Even if the NBA’s all-time leading scorer doesn’t ultimately choose Minnesota for his 24th season, the Wolves take pride in the league-wide belief that their current roster — featuring Edwards, Ball, McDaniels, and veteran defensive anchor Rudy Gobert — could offer James one of the best on-court fits available.
“This is a place where you’re going to have a lot of fun and win a lot of games. We’re trying to change the narrative of how this organization is viewed. We’re kind of proud of who we are, and certainly, wherever LeBron ends up, he’s going to make that place much, much better,” Connelly said. “I like who we are and we’re pretty proud of who we are. Hopefully that’s appealing, not just to LeBron, but to any free agent.”
