The Charlotte Hornets waived forward Tosan Evbuomwan on Thursday. A few hours later, they traded LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves. Those two things are connected only by a calendar, but it’s the kind of sequence that makes you check your timeline twice.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Hornets let Evbuomwan go to open a roster spot. That spot didn’t stay empty long. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that Charlotte sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
Evbuomwan averaged 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over 50 career NBA games. He also won G League Finals MVP last season. But his waiver was a procedural note buried under the real news.
The Ball trade is the kind of move that reshapes two franchises
Ball was supposed to be Charlotte’s guy. He won Rookie of the Year in 2021 and played six seasons as the face of the franchise. Injuries kept him from being an every-night star, but at 24, he’s still one of the most creative passers in the league. The Hornets decided they’d rather cash in than wait.
What they got back is interesting. Naz Reid is a legit frontcourt scorer who can stretch the floor. He’s not a superstar, but he’s a proven rotation player on a good contract. The draft capital is where this gets serious: an unprotected first in 2033, three swap rights across 2028-2030, and three seconds. That’s a lot of flexibility for a team that needs to rebuild again.
It’s also a bet that Ball’s value won’t get higher than it is right now. Charlotte clearly thinks it can build something more sustainable around young complementary pieces and future picks. That’s a tough conversation to have if you’re a fan who bought a Ball jersey, but it’s a business move that makes some sense on paper.
Evbuomwan, meanwhile, will probably land somewhere else before camp. He’s a 24-year-old forward who can shoot a little and defend multiple positions. Teams always need guys like that at the end of the roster. His G League Finals MVP run proved he can be the man on a smaller stage. The question is whether he can stick in the NBA.
For now, Charlotte’s roster has a different shape than it did 48 hours ago. The Hornets aren’t tanking openly, but they’re not pretending to compete either. They’re in between, holding assets and waiting. That’s not the worst place to be. It’s just not the place they expected to be when they drafted Ball third overall in 2020.
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