The Timberwolves followed up another strong regular season in which they were the 6-seed in a crowded Western Conference with a familiar ending, falling short in the playoffs. In the aftermath, the front office moved on from Julius Randle in what essentially amounted to a salary dump, signaling a clear shift in roster construction.
That deal quickly evolved into a larger multi-team framework, ultimately bringing in LaMelo Ball and Josh Green. In return, Minnesota sent out Naz Reid, a first-round pick, three second-round picks, and three pick swaps. The first round pick is in 2033, and the pick swaps are convoluted swaps that likely won’t meaningfully alter either teams draft positioning. The current projected starting lineup now features Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert. There were also growing rumblings that Edwards could become disgruntled in the near future, and Minnesota’s aggressive maneuvering appears aimed at both preserving the current core and reinforcing their commitment to competing at a high level around him.
On the Charlotte side, the Hornets parted ways with their offensive engine in LaMelo Ball in exchange for Naz Reid, a future first-round pick that effectively represents a player who is still likely in middle school, along with additional draft capital. While Ball always seemed like a candidate to eventually leave Charlotte, there was no public indication that he had requested a trade. He still had multiple years remaining on his contract and was eligible for a new extension. After a season that saw the Hornets make a meaningful push toward the play-in tournament and show genuine upward momentum for the first time in years, the move feels like a reset rather than a step forward. Charlotte now turns once again to roster reconstruction.
The deal did create a sizeable trade exception worth roughly $40 million, giving the front office optionality to pursue a major acquisition down the line, though given franchise history, that outcome remains uncertain. Some of that flexibility was already used to re-sign Coby White to a three-year contract.
Charlotte’s current depth chart likely features White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, and Naz Reid. However, the frontcourt rotation is suddenly crowded, with Reid joining Ryan Kalkbrenner, Moussa Diabaté, and newly added lottery pick Hannes Steinbach all competing for minutes. There is an additional problem with a lack of playmaking and passing on the roster. White isn’t exactly a pass-first point guard, and the heavy 3pt style the Hornets played this season heavily relies on a facilitator running the offense.
More moves still feel likely in Charlotte. With a large trade exception and a deep collection of draft assets, the front office has the tools to pivot again, whether that leads to consolidation around a new core or another long-term rebuild remains to be seen.