Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball were two of the top three picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, and they are now teammates. The Minnesota Timberwolves landed Ball in a blockbuster trade with the Charlotte Hornets, and analyst Kyle Theige reported on the Dane Moore NBA Podcast that Edwards is thrilled about this.
“From what I’ve heard, by the way, ‘Anthony Edwards is over the moon,’ was the quote I got about this deal,” Theige said. “And I think if Ant could sign an extension today, he would sign that extension. I think that’s worth mentioning after what we kind of heard earlier this week.”
Now, Edwards can actually sign an extension with the Timberwolves this summer, but it doesn’t make sense financially for him to do so. The 24-year-old didn’t make an All-NBA team last season because of the 65-game rule, which means he can only sign a two-year, $122 million deal this offseason.
Edwards, who averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in 2025-26, is better off waiting another year. If he makes All-NBA in 2027, he’d be eligible to get a four-year, $300 million supermax extension from the Timberwolves.
Acquiring Ball appears to make it likelier that Edwards will sign that deal next year. There was talk about the four-time All-Star being the next big name to ask out, and the Timberwolves are trying to ensure that doesn’t happen. NBA insider Brian Windhorst explained on Get Up how this Ball trade addresses one of Edwards’ biggest complaints.
“Minnesota, this is a move to get Ant Edwards the kind of backcourt running mate that he needs,” Windhorst said. “Ant Edwards was a guy that people, after Giannis [Antetokounmpo] getting traded, were like, is this the next star player to be traded? He has watched Karl-Anthony Towns go to New York in a trade that ended up not working out and win a championship. Where is his head at?
“He’s tired of being double-teamed,” Windhorst continued. “They get him a dynamic scorer in the backcourt. You throw a double team at Ant Edwards with LaMelo ball in the court, you are playing with fire. LaMelo will drop 10 three-pointers on you in the blink of an eye. And so this is what their move is. To accomplish this, they are basically emptying their coffers.”
The Timberwolves got Ball and Josh Green from the Hornets for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033. They have an interesting starting lineup now.
Tim MacMahon then later added on Get Up that by making this move, the Timberwolves are sending a message to Edwards and rival teams.
“For the Wolves, this is a swing,” MacMahon said. “And this is telling all those vultures that are circling from other front offices, go somewhere else. Shoot. Get away from here because this is a move that is telling Anthony Edwards, we are all-in to win right now. And obviously, Ant was involved in this. Ant was consulted in this. And this is something that he wanted. He wanted to be paired with another potential star.”
Ball averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game for the Hornets in 2025-26. While Windhorst brought up the 24-year-old’s shooting prowess, his playmaking will also make life easier for Edwards.
As for how Ball feels about this trade, The Ringer’s Zach Lowe reported on The Zach Lowe Show that he is happy about it.
“I’ve heard LaMelo is very excited about this, despite some shell shock that Charlotte dumped him after what a wonderful feel-good story,” Lowe said. “And he and Ant have known each other for a long time.”
The Hornets were indeed a feel-good story last season as they overcame a poor start to make it to the play-in tournament. They failed to advance to the playoffs, though, and the front office decided to part ways with Ball, now that his stock has risen a bit following that turnaround.
We have graded this trade, and the Hornets aren’t looking like the winners at this point. Time will tell if they were just smarter than everyone else, or if this was just another poor decision in a long line of them.
