It was about two weeks ago that Shams Charania dropped a bombshell. The Minnesota Timberwolves would be acquiring star point guard LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. That deal can finally become official tomorrow (July 9), as that is the date that Mouhamadou Gueye can officially be traded (Minnesota will then subsequently waive him).
The trade has been met with varying opinions as Ball is somewhat of a polarizing player. It was four years ago that the Timberwolves made another trade for a polarizing star in Rudy Gobert that at the time was seen as a massive overpay, but not as much so today.
Gobert trade also received poor grades at the timeÂ
Yes, having to trade fan favorite Naz Reid in order to acquire Ball is a tough pill to swallow. It shouldn’t be seen as the Wolves giving up a massive haul, though, in order to acquire the former All-Star.
Despite this, the Timberwolves have received poor marks by some major publications for the deal. Both Zach Kram of ESPN and Zach Harper of The Athletic gave Minnesota a D+ for their trade grade.
I knew there weren’t many that liked the deal from Minnesota’s end when they acquired Gobert, so I looked back at those trade grades as well. Just as a reminder, the Timberwolves gave up Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, and four unprotected first-round picks, one pick swap and a top-five protected pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the then three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton gave the Timberwolves a D for the trade. Zach Harper saw it in a little bit of a better light, giving Minnesota a C+ (gave the Jazz a B).
It’s safe to say that the Wolves’ floor and ceiling have risen since acquiring The Stifle Tower. No, he’s not a perfect player (particularly on offense), but he has helped instill a defensive mindset within the club. In 2023-24, Minnesota had the league’s best defensive rating, and Gobert won his fourth DPOY. He finished fourth in voting last year.
So let’s tune out the initial thoughts from many regarding the Ball trade. He’s already the most dynamic offensive player that Anthony Edwards has ever played alongside. The Timberwolves were in need of a playmaker, and they got one who will be just 25 years old next season. While there are injury concerns, it’s easy to see how Ball can raise the floor and ceiling just as Gobert has.
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