A Hornets front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith why Charlotte moved LaMelo Ball, citing Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Naz Reid.
Speaking anonymously with Keith Smith of Spotrac during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, a Charlotte Hornets front office executive addressed the June trade that sent LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.
"When you trade someone as good and as popular as LaMelo, you have to get it right. We think we did," the executive said. "Coby (White) is a starting point guard. Brandon (Miller) needs a new deal and he needs the ball more. Same with Kon (Knueppel) as far as needing the ball. Getting all of those picks, plus Naz Reid to help our frontcourt, it was the right move at the right time."
Charlotte agreed on June 25 to send Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hornets received Naz Reid, Mouhamadou Gueye, the draft rights to Matteo Spagnolo, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033. The Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets were involved by the time Charlotte announced the deal as a four-team transaction.
Ball spent six seasons with the Hornets. He won Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and made the All-Star team the following season.
White arrived from Chicago at the February trade deadline. Over 21 games with Charlotte, he averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, shooting 46.1% from the field and 39.1% from 3, with the Hornets going 15-6. He re-signed on a three-year, $74 million contract this offseason.
Miller became eligible for a rookie-scale extension on July 1, which closes the day before the 2026-27 season in October. He is owed $15,104,626 next season, but without an extension, he would reach restricted free agency in summer 2027 with a qualifying offer of about $21.2 million. Across 65 games last season, Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on .435/.383/.892 shooting splits in 30.3 minutes per game. He had surgery in early May to address left shoulder instability.
Knueppel, the No. 4 pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists as a rookie while shooting 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from 3-point range, and 86.3% from the free-throw line. His 273 3-pointers were one more than Ball's 272 and led the league, making him the first rookie to do that. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Cooper Flagg.
Reid averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season, shooting 45.6% from the field and 36.2% from deep. He won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 with Minnesota. He signed a five-year, $125 million deal in 2025, with a $28.45 million player option for 2029-30.
Charlotte finished 44-38, beating the Miami Heat at home in the 9-10 play-in then losing 121-90 to Orlando in the 8-9 game. The Ball trade created a $40.7 million traded-player exception.
Jeff Peterson, the president of basketball operations and general manager, has since moved Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, and acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-rounders from the Houston Rockets.
Charlotte now holds 20 second-round picks over the next seven years.
