​With LeBron James still weighing options for a new NBA home, the Minnesota Timberwolves reshaped their roster on Friday by adding guards LaMelo Ball and Josh Green through a four-team trade. The Wolves acquired Ball and Green from Charlotte in exchange for forward Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, three second-round picks, and three future first-round pick swaps. The deal also involved the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, with Minnesota obtaining the rights to NBA Draft guard Isaiah Evans from Brooklyn in exchange for forward Julius Randle and the draft rights to forward Joshua Jefferson. Additionally, the Bulls secured center Nic Claxton from Brooklyn while sending forward Mouhamadou Gueye to Charlotte.
In this transaction Minnesota parts ways with Reid and Randle, both of whom played pivotal roles during the club’s recent playoff appearances. Reid was instrumental in sparking the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals in 2024 and again in 2025. Randle joined him in 2025, helping the team reach the second round this year, where they were eliminated by San Antonio.
The trade creates salary-cap space for the Timberwolves, who may be positioning themselves to lure 41-year-old forward LeBron James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, into their lineup. James has indicated his intention to return for a 24th season, but he is departing the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent after eight seasons with the franchise. If he signs with Minnesota, James would team up with a core that includes star guard Anthony Edwards, with Ball likely handling backcourt duties as well, complemented by Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, whose defense and offense would bolster the lineup.
Ball, 24, has appeared in 303 career games over six seasons with Charlotte, posting averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Notably, Ball joined a select group of players—Luka Dončić, James Harden and Jamal Murray—in posting averages of at least 20 points, seven assists, and three three-pointers per game during the 2025-26 season, a testament to his consistency and playmaking ability.
Green, Austrian-born and 25 years old, has played 349 games across six seasons for Dallas and Charlotte, delivering averages of 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has predominantly served in a reserve role but contributed meaningfully, including helping the Australian national team secure their first Olympic medal in Tokyo. The Timberwolves’ move to acquire Green and Ball signals a strategic shift toward versatile guard play and increased playmaking as they consider the potential addition of James.