Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Hornets Trade LaMelo Ball in $40.7M Exception Deal

6/25/2026

23 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The trade creates a $40.7 million trade exception, the largest in NBA history.
Charlotte Hornets sent LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 pick, three swap rights and three second-round picks.
Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists per game over 72 contests last season.
Reid, a 26-year-old forward, posted 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds last season and is under a five-year, $125 million contract.

History

Historical Context

After the 2017 collective bargaining agreement gave teams a trade-exception that can preserve tens of millions of cap space, the Boston Celtics first applied a large exception in the 2018 Kyrie Irving deal. In 2024 the Charlotte Hornets used a $40.7 million exception to send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota, showing how the rule lets franchises reshape rosters quickly.

1 of 2

Story summary

The trade creates a $40.7 million trade exception, the largest in NBA history.
Charlotte Hornets sent LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 pick, three swap rights and three second-round picks.
Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists per game over 72 contests last season.
Reid, a 26-year-old forward, posted 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds last season and is under a five-year, $125 million contract.

1 / 2