Despite a 25-game improvement last season and a play-in victory, the Charlotte Hornets decided that they didn’t want to be in the LaMelo Ball business anymore.
Thursday, the Hornets sent their All-Star guard to the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with forward Josh Green, for Naz Reid and a package of draft picks and swaps. It’s a sign that Charlotte’s ownership wanted to move on from their All-Star guard no matter how strong his offense might be.
LaMelo Ball trade return lacks big prize
Charlotte got a lot of draft pick volume by sending out Ball, but not necessarily draft pick quality. They got an unprotected first-round pick in 2033, seven years in the future, three first-round swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, in addition to three second-rounders.
The 2028 swap is a straightforward exchange with the Timberwolves. In 2029, the Hornets get the second-best pick among the Timberwolves Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers, while in 2030 they can swap their pick with the worst owned by the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Wolves. The odds are that the 2030 swap at least won’t be worth much.
They do fill a hole at power forward by adding Reid, while they’ve replaced Ball at point guard by re-signing Coby White to a three-year deal. It’s still far short of the kind of blockbuster offer that would convince a team to trade their superstar. Which indicates the Hornets were ready to move on.
