LaMelo Ball and Josh Green join Minnesota Timberwovles as part of four-team trade

[p]The T-Wolves obtained the guards from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/charlotte-hornets/xftMikUg/"]Charlotte[/a] in exchange for forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reid-naz/zDWvtXt5/"]Naz Reid[/a], a 2033 first-round pick, three second-round picks and three future first-round pick swaps.[/p][p]In a deal that also included the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brooklyn-nets/bsAMUpDO/"]Brooklyn Nets[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-bulls/bPjc49q0/"]Chicago Bulls[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Minnesota[/a] landed the rights to NBA Draft guard selection [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hartenstein-isaiah/v5FbfBw9/"]Isaiah Evans[/a] from the Nets in exchange for forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/randle-julius/lhl0euwn/"]Julius Randle[/a] and the draft rights to forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jefferson-joshua/SlwW8nb6/"]Joshua Jefferson[/a].[/p][p]The trade also saw the Bulls obtain center [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/claxton-nicolas/WzYPJgoJ/"]Nic Claxton[/a] from Brooklyn and send forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gueye-mouhamadou/AeVw1kI9/"]Mouhamadou Gueye[/a] to Charlotte.[/p][p]Minnesota parts ways with Reid and Randle, who played major roles in the club's recent playoff runs.[/p][p]Reid helped spark the T-Wolves to the Western Conference finals in 2024 and 2025. Randle joined him in 2025 and helped them into the second round this year, where they lost to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio[/a].[/p][p]The moves open salary cap space for the Timberwolves as they might hope to add 41-year-old forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-lebron/nuIVxFJk/"]James[/a], a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, to the lineup.[/p][embed guid="e2327eef-7fd5-41d5-9e29-1242b2789dc8" url="https://x.com/TWolvesLead/status/2075672661384917315?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The four-time NBA champion has said he will return for a 24th season, but is leaving the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-lakers/ngegZ8bg/"]Los Angeles Lakers[/a] as a free agent after eight campaigns.[/p][p]In Minnesota James would play alongside a lineup that includes star guard [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edwards-anthony/6u0BMZM2/"]Anthony Edwards[/a] with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ball-lamelo/fskMOC1n/"]Ball[/a] likely in the backcourt as well, plus [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcdaniels-jaden/0pp52ftg/"]Jaden McDaniels[/a] and Frenchman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gobert-rudy/boMyt82G/"]Rudy Gobert[/a] providing solid defensive work and offensive support.[/p][p]Several teams are considered top contenders for James, including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-76ers/vwRW2QSh/"]Philadelphia[/a] and his former NBA clubs, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/miami-heat/CQ7AXnT5/"]Miami[/a] and hometown [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland[/a].[/p][p]Ball, 24, has played 303 career games over six seasons in Charlotte, averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists.[/p][p]With 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds, Ball joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doncic-luka/pQ4ZBK0o/"]Luka Doncic[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harden-james/zm5V3CZo/"]James Harden[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murray-jamal/Ig5nQrEF/"]Jamal Murray[/a] as the only NBA players to average 20 points, seven assists and three three-point baskets a game in the 2025-26 season.[/p][p]Australian Green, 25, has played 349 games over six seasons with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-mavericks/YouS3mEC/"]Dallas[/a] and Charlotte, averaging 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in mainly a reserve role. He helped the Boomers win their first Olympic medal at Tokyo.[/p]