The Charlotte Hornets’ post-draft blockbuster involving LaMelo Ball has drawn a strong endorsement from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who believes the move could work out well for Charlotte even if it comes with plenty of risk.
Charlotte sent Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal that brought back Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks. MacMahon called it a move that could split opinion.
"The LaMelo trade is going to be a polarizing deal," ESPN NBA Analyst Tim MacMahon said. "And there is a chance that he could make them look very bad for it.
Nobody doubts his talent. He's coming off his best year and maybe with a change of scenery, sliding to kind of the shot and roll in Minnesota, LaMelo's career could very well take off."
Ball’s season gave Charlotte a chance to sell high. The 24-year-old appeared in 72 games, his healthiest stretch in a while, and put up 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot 40.7 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three.
Even with Ball’s talent, MacMahon said the reaction around the league has leaned in Charlotte’s favor.
"But I haven't heard anybody tell me they thought that was a bad deal for the Hornets," MacMahon said. "You know, on the contrary, I've heard people say, 'Hey, they did a great job of letting him restore his value and pouncing as soon as they got an opportunity to get a first-round pick in return."'
The Hornets have also stocked up on draft assets this offseason while adding young players through the draft, including Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson.
Reid gives Charlotte a major piece in the deal as well. The former 6th Man of the Year is expected to start at power forward in the 2026-27 season after averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, a steal, and a block per game in 2025-26. He shot 45.6 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from beyond the arc.
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Watson would come with the kind of team-control wrinkle that makes these situations worth monitoring, since Charlotte could try to pry him loose with an offer sheet and force Denver into a quick decision. The appeal is obvious for the Hornets, who have already added pieces around Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Naz Reid and Moussa Diabat, but the real question is whether they see enough upside in another athletic wing to keep pushing in that direction. [Read more 🡒]