The Charlotte Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
At Minnesota Timberwolves media day, LaMelo Ball was asked about the Charlotte Hornets trading him.
A reporter asked Ball if he was surprised that Charlotte traded him. The guard said he never really does surprises, so if you tell me anything, he just hears it out and goes about his day.
Ball added that he always has a chip on his shoulder.
Charlotte traded Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks.
The Hornets never made the playoffs in the Ball era. Ball played in 303 games with Charlotte. He averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 assists per game and made one All-Star team (2022).
Ball also won the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year award.
Charlotte hasn't made the playoffs since 2016. It will be fascinating to see if the team makes the playoffs this season in Year 1 of the post-Ball era.
Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are the new faces of the Charlotte franchise with Ball gone. Both youngsters have a lot of untapped potential.
Miller appeared in 65 games for the Hornets last season, his third year in the NBA. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 43.5% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
Miller enters this season with career averages of 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Even though Knueppel didn't win the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award, he still had a special season for the Hornets. The swingman averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and shot 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from 3 and 86.3% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in 3-pointers.
Many Hornets fans are excited to watch Reid play. Reid won the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year award. He enters this season with regular-season averages of 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game and playoff averages of 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
For Minnesota last season, Reid averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, 36.2% from beyond the arc and 73.2% from the free-throw line. He recorded six double-doubles.
The Hornets open the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.
