The 2020 NBA Draft just reunited itself in Minnesota. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball in the same starting lineup. Give the Western Conference a moment to process that.
The Timberwolves have acquired LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets, pairing the No. 1 and No. 3 picks from that class in what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting backcourts in the league. Minnesota sent Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks to Charlotte to get the deal done.
That is a hefty price. Reid was one of the better bench players in the NBA and a fan favorite in Minnesota. But the Wolves looked at the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs sitting on top of the Western Conference and decided that playing it safe was not going to cut it. When they faced OKC in the 2025 Western Conference Finals, they lost four games by 73 combined points. Something had to change.
Here is where it gets interesting though. Charlotte knows LaMelo better than anyone. They know his medical history, his strengths, his weaknesses, and his personality. And they decided he was not the person they wanted to build around. That is not nothing. Ball played 72 games last season after suiting up just 105 combined in the three seasons before that. He has never been known for his defense. The injury history is real and the Wolves just handed him the keys anyway.
But the upside is genuinely hard to ignore. Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists per game last season and is one of the most creative passers in the sport. Put him next to Edwards, who can score from anywhere, and opposing defenses are going to have a very bad time. The Hornets were the NBA's best offense after January 1 last season with Ball running the show. Now imagine that engine next to Ant.
By the numbers
Ball ranked second in the NBA with 272 made three-pointers last season, hitting 36.8% from deep. Edwards led the league in scoring. Two of the most dynamic offensive players in basketball are now on the same team. Minnesota is either about to be must-watch television or a cautionary tale about going all-in. Possibly both at the same time.
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