The Charlotte Hornets just made a blockbuster trade.
Those are words that have not been put together in a very long time. The Hornets have been toiling in NBA mediocrity for years, occasionally clawing their way up to the bottom of the postseason ladder, other times floundering near the bottom.
That changed last season, when the Hornets became the league's hottest team down the stretch and very nearly made the playoffs. And now the transformation continues, as the Hornets are trading away franchise star LaMelo Ball.
After speculation took off late Wednesday night that teams were making aggressive offers for the All-Star guard, ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news on Thursday morning:
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lkhXBWHCrA
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2026
The Timberwolves have needed an answer at point guard for years, with D'Angelo Russell falling short and Mike Conley only a stopgap who has since aged out of the role. With lottery pick Rob Dillingham a bust and Donte DiVIncenzo injured, the Wolves have been aggressive looking for a secondary offensive creator next to Anthony Edwards.
They found him in LaMelo Ball, whose audacious shooting and flashy passing lead to plenty of highlights, good and bad, but also plenty of positive on/off numbers. The No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft now joins the No. 1 pick in Minnesota, and for a steep price.
Charlotte got a haul for Ball
The Hornets surely received offers for Ball that included multiple actual first-round picks, but they probably lacked signifiant upside. The trade from the Wolves only has one pick, and unprotected 2033 first-round pick from the Wolves, but it also brings a lot of other value.
Charlotte recieves a trio of second-round picks, as well as a trio of first-round pick swaps. Those seem to be even more valuable than in years past, given that so many teams will have a real shot at leaping up into the Top 4. If Minnesota has one bad year from 2028-2030, the Hornets will be in position to pounce.
Most of all, the Hornets just landed their new starting power forward in Naz Reid, who has improved year after year as a versatile big man who can defend multiple positions, shoot at a high level, and even put the ball on the deck and attack the basket. He can play power forward or center and instantly transforms the Hornets' frontcourt.
For all that they got back, however, this trade was not about LaMelo Ball. It was about Kon Knueppel.
This is Kon Knueppel's team now
Somehow lost in the fog of Cooper Flagg winning Rookie of the Year and getting a new head coach, and Dylan Harper having a breakout postseason, is the reality that Kon Knueppel was the best rookie in the NBA last season.
He shattered the rookie record for made 3-pointers, passing Keegan Murray by 67 3-pointers as he hit a total of 273, which also led the entire NBA. Although often deferring to Ball and Brandon Miller, he was lethal when he had the ball, scoring with great touch inside the arc and great accuracy and confidence outside of it.
Knueppel looks like a future star, and that meant handing him the keys at some point. Charlotte decided not to waste any time and risk Ball either stunting Knueppel's growth or, more likely, Ball getting injured and tanking his trade value. They struck while the iron was hot, trading Ball and giving Knueppel room to cook.
There is work to be done. The Hornets hope to bring back Coby White, likely to start at point guard. They need to find a new home for Miles Bridges. They have plenty of trade capital to make another move.
For now, the statement is clear. The Charlotte Hornets are Kon Knueppel's team now. It's up to the young budding star to take the wheel and drive them to the promised land.
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