Timberwolves land LaMelo Ball from Hornets in four-team trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially added LaMelo Ball, prised away from the Charlotte Hornets in a four-team trade that also involves Brooklyn and Chicago. The introductory press conference took place on Tuesday 14 July at the Target Center in Minneapolis, where the point guard opened his new chapter in Wolves colours.

The deal, described as "complicated" by the front office, brought Ball and guard Josh Green to Minnesota. Heading to Charlotte were fan favourite Naz Reid and a package of draft picks: an unprotected 2033 first-rounder, first-round swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and second-rounders in 2029, 2032 and 2033. Brooklyn was also pulled into the web, with Julius Randle landing with the Nets.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly welcomed the signing as a piece to "elevate" the whole team, on a roster that wants to ease the playmaking burden on star Anthony Edwards. "I think he'll elevate us," Connelly said, convinced that the Minneapolis environment will aid the growth of the 24-year-old Ball, in his sixth NBA season.

The Wolves are paying a steep price — two proven power forwards and several picks — but they believe it lifts them toward a title. Coach Chris Finch stressed the need for a big backcourt, a lesson drawn from a postseason that ended with a second-round loss to San Antonio.

For Ball, who has mixed injuries with flashes of brilliance, a chance opens to play in a more structured team than the Hornets, as he tries to turn his free-spirited style into an asset for Minnesota's championship push.

Sources

• Associated Press — Wolves bank on Ball's pure point guard play: https://apnews.com/article/timberwolves-lamelo-ball-f35d71e34a2d93fe990c77b7607db325