Former star LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets debuted his new Timberwolves look on Media Day.
The Charlotte Hornets will enter the 2026-27 NBA season looking a little different than the last time the team took the court.
Star guard LaMelo Ball is now in Minnesota following a blockbuster offseason trade. Ball had been the face of the Hornets since he was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, but it seemed to be time to move on from one another.
The Hornets saw some success with Ball leading the charge, but the organization just couldn't get over the hump to even make the playoffs. Ball led the team to the Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference a few times, but Charlotte was eliminated before they could get into the actual postseason bracket.
Now in Minnesota, Ball will be looking to help co-star Anthony Edwards go after a title, with the Timberwolves being a legit championship contender. But ahead of the new NBA season starting, the former Hornets guard put on his new look during Media Day.
For many fans of the Hornets, seeing Ball in a Timberwolves jersey is a strange sight, especially since he never publicly asked for a trade. There were rumors that Ball was open to the idea of being moved, but he consistently pushed back on that narrative.
However, Ball is now with the Timberwolves, setting off a new era of Hornets basketball going forward. Young forward Brandon Miller is now the new face of the franchise, with Charlotte giving him the keys to the team
Without Ball on the roster, Miller will now have more responsibility on his shoulders to lead this team. Miller has all the talent in the world to make it happen, and Charlotte feels very comfortable with his ability to be the top option for the organization.
The forward will be tasked with being more of a scoring threat, while also stepping up his leadership abilities on the court. Miller may also need to help out with some of the playmaking for others since Ball is no longer on the roster to help facilitate the offense.
While Charlotte isn't generally seen as a title contender entering the season, this group could be a playoff team. Last season, the Hornets were one of the better offensive teams in the NBA, and they should be able to duplicate that success in 2026-27.
This year could be a building season for the Hornets, with the organization seeing how they perform without Ball on the roster. But Charlotte is gunning for a postseason spot, and this team won't be satisfied until that happens.
The Hornets open the new season on October 21 on the road against the Brooklyn Nets.
