T-Wolves, Hornets Updated Rosters, Salary Caps and NBA Draft Picks After LaMelo Ball-Naz Reid Trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly took a huge swing Thursday, acquiring one-time All-Star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets for center Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

With the reported additions of Ball and Green, the T-Wolves' current roster for the 2026-27 season is as follows:

• Anthony Edwards (G)
• LaMelo Ball (G)
• Rudy Gobert (C)
• Ayo Dosunmu (G)
• Jaden McDaniels (F)
• Donte DiVincenzo (G)
• Josh Green (G)
• Isaiah Evans (G - rookie)
• Trey Kaufman-Renn (F - rookie)
• Mouhamadou Gueye (F - club option)
• Joan Beringer (C)
• Terrence Shannon Jr. (G)
• Julian Phillips (F - club option)
• Enrique Freeman (F - RFA)
• Jaylen Clark (G - RFA)
• Rocco Zikarsky (C - two-way)
• Zyon Pullin (G - two-way)

Meanwhile, the Hornets' current roster is as follows after swapping Ball and Green for Reid and draft picks:

• Kon Knueppel (F)
• Brandon Miller (F)
• Miles Bridges (F)
• Naz Reid (C)
• Tre Mann (G)
• Grant Williams (F)
• Ryan Kalkbrenner (C)
• Hannes Steinbach (F - rookie)
• Christian Anderson (G - rookie)
• Tidjane Salaun (F)
• Pat Connaughton (G)
• Liam McNeeley (F)
• Moussa Diabate (F)
• Sion James (F)
• Antonio Reeves (G - RFA)
• P.J. Hall (F - two-way)
• Tosan Evbuomwan (G - two-way)

According to Spotrac, the Timberwolves are now at $93.951 million over the salary cap, placing them $16.862 million under the first apron and $29.862 million under the second apron.

The Hornets sit $22.013 million over the cap, but $60.597 million under the first apron and $73.597 million under the second apron, according to Spotrac.

After moving a bevy of draft picks to Charlotte as part of the deal, Minnesota's future draft picks are as follows, per Real GM:

• 2028 First-Round Pick (swap eligible)
• 2029 First-Round Pick (swap eligible)
• 2030 First-Round Pick (swap eligible)
• 2032 First-Round Pick
• Memphis' 2030 Second-Round Pick (if 51-60)

Meanwhile, the Hornets' future picks look like this, according to Real GM:

• 2027 First-Round Pick
• Dallas' 2027 First-Round Pick (if 3-30)
• Miami's 2027 First-Round Pick (if 15-30)
• 2028 First-Round Pick (and Miami's if not settled in 2027)
• 2029 First-Round Pick
• Least favorable of Utah/Cleveland/Minnesota 2029 First-Round Pick
• 2030 First-Round Pick
• 2031 First-Round Pick
• 2032 First-Round Pick
• 2033 First-Round Pick
• Minnesota's 2033 First-Round Pick
• Least favorable of Boston/Orlando 2027 Second-Round Pick
• More favorable of Portland/New Orleans 2027 Second-Round Pick
• More favorable of Charlotte/LA Clippers 2028 Second-Round Pick
• Miami's 2028 Second-Round Pick (if Dallas does not convey 2027 FRP)
• Orlando's 2028 Second-Round Pick
• 2029 Second-Round Pick
• Minnesota's 2029 Second-Round Pick
• Denver's 2029 Second-Round Pick (if Denver has conveyed FRP to OKC by 2029)
• 2030 Second-Round Pick (if 31-55)
• More favorable of Utah/LA Clippers 2030 Second-Round Pick
• 2031 Second-Round Pick
• Milwaukee's 2031 Second-Round Pick
• Phoenix's 2031 Second-Round Pick
• 2032 Second-Round Pick
• Milwaukee's 2032 Second-Round Pick
• Minnesota's 2032 Second-Round Pick
• 2033 Second-Round Pick
• Minnesota's 2033 Second-Round Pick

In Ball, the T-Wolves are getting a highly productive and talented player who owns career averages of 20.8 points, 7.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers made and 1.4 steals per game.

However, he isn't particularly efficient as evidenced by shooting 41.8 percent from the field for his career, and injuries have been a problem with him missing 30 or more games in four of his six NBA seasons.

Ball also never led the Hornets to the playoffs, leading to questions about whether his brand of basketball is conducive to winning.

He did manage to appear in 72 games last season, though, and he won't be the go-to guy in Minnesota since that role clearly belongs to Anthony Edwards.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said this week on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective (beginning at the 35:30 mark) that Edwards has been "frustrated" ever since the T-Wolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns in 2024 due to the consistent double-teams he has faced:

If nothing else, Ball should at least draw some of the defensive attention away from Edwards. And if he doesn't, then Ball could thrive in one-on-one situations.

Minnesota is clearly trying to make big changes in an effort to get over the hump after reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025, and the second round of the playoffs last season.

They already traded forward Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, and Ball figures to essentially replace his spot in the offensive pecking order.