Timberwolves Chased LaMelo Ball for Two Years Before Finally Landing Him

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to trade for LaMelo Ball. They’d been working this angle for two full years before finally pulling it off, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

It cost them Naz Reid and a pile of draft picks to make it happen. But inside the organization, there’s real excitement about pairing Ball with Anthony Edwards. That combo has been the front office’s white whale for a while now.

“The Wolves have been trying to get LaMelo Ball for two years,” Krawczynski wrote. “They paid a price with Naz, but there is elation throughout the building about pairing Melo and Anthony Edwards.”

What the Timberwolves Are Getting

Ball will take over as the starting point guard next to Edwards, giving Minnesota a backcourt with serious firepower. Over six seasons with Charlotte, he averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. He shot 42 percent from the floor and 37 percent from three. He was Rookie of the Year in year one and an All-Star by year two.

Then the injuries hit. Wrist problems. Ankle issues. Ball played no more than 47 games in any season between 2022 and 2024. But last season he bounced back to play 72 games, putting up 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. That was enough to convince Minnesota he’s still the player they’d been tracking.

The Cost and the Risk

Losing Naz Reid hurts. He’d been a reliable piece for Minnesota, a guy who could stretch the floor and defend multiple positions. The Timberwolves now have a hole at the four behind Jalen McDaniels, and they’ll need to figure that out before the playoffs.

But the front office was willing to pay that price because they believe Ball and Edwards can be the kind of duo that wins championships. Edwards is already one of the most explosive scorers in the league. Ball gives them a playmaker who can create for himself and others, which should take some pressure off Edwards in the half-court.

It’s a swing. A big one. The Timberwolves have been good but not great in recent years, and this move says they’re tired of waiting. Ball now has to prove he can stay healthy and deliver when it matters most. Minnesota is betting he can.