Why the Hornets were right to move on from LaMelo Ball as the Wolves roll the dice
There's a well-worn social media meme about messy people doing messy things because that's just who they are in their core. But then someone comes along and thinks they can fix that person despite all the available evidence to the contrary. This is the precursor to the classic Arrested Development bit. Something tells me Minnesota bossman Tim Connelly is unfamiliar with those pop culture staples.
On Thursday, the Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks. That's a lot of draft capital for the Wolves to give up, to say nothing of losing a former Sixth Man of the Year in Reid, a guy who could have been the starting power forward in Minnesota after they cut ties with Julius Randle earlier in the week.
In the course of all this, the already-thin Wolves -- who gave Ayo Dosumnu a new five-year deal worth $112 million but are likely to be without the services of Donte DiVincenzo for next season due to an Achilles injury -- have even less depth. Pairing Ball with Anthony Edwards was apparently too enticing for the Wolves to pass up, but there are countless questions about why Connelly would find that so alluring and how he plans to build out the rest of the roster.
LaMelo Ball trade winners and losers: Timberwolves get Anthony Edwards the best backcourt mate of his career Jack Maloney
Why the Hornets wanted to move on
We'll start with Ball, who the Hornets rightly decided wasn't their guy anymore, choosing to take Reid, the haul of draft picks and swaps, and build around two players who are just flat out better in Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. Ball is a counting stats monster, but he's also rarely available. Yes, he played 72 games last season, but in the three seasons prior to that, he managed to be on the floor for just 105 games combined. And when he did play in Charlotte, the Hornets weren't a very good basketball team. In six seasons, the Hornets went 139-164 with him on the floor. That's less than ideal.
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Credit to Hornets coach Charles Lee for trying to coach up Ball and get him to play within the confines of a team system, but LaMelo never consistently got the message. Now and then, it looked like he was willing to be less of a freelancer, only to then revert back to his poor decision-making and abiding love for me-first highlight reel hoops. Ball's brand of basketball is something approaching YOLO on roller skates. Someone -- and apologies to who first came up with this because I can't remember, but it was a great line -- once said he looks like he's playing basketball in slides. It can be entertaining at times. Unless your main goal is to try to win games above all else, at which point his approach is something much closer to maddening.
Even when the Hornets won games with Ball, it was just as frequently in spite of him as because of him. And sometimes all of that happened on the same night, where Charlotte was forced to overcome messy LaMelo for long stretches, only for him to do something spectacular when the odds seemed heavily stacked against it.
The LaMelo Experience (summed up in one game)
There was perhaps no better example of the full LaMelo Ball Experience than the Hornets play-in game against the Miami Heat this past postseason. Ball hit the game winner and the Hornets won the 9-10 matchup by one point in overtime.
That was good LaMelo, the flash of bright light that can draw so many people toward him. Bad LaMelo was everything that came before that moment, and there was a lot of it. Ball had 30 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds in that game, but he also needed 31 shots to do it. That included an almost impossible but decidedly comical 14 misses on 16 3-point attempts. At some point, you'd think that, with his shot not falling from distance, he'd adjust his game. You'd think he'd give consideration to the situation on the floor, the time on the clock, how the game was unfolding and how he might best serve his team. You'd think that, and you'd be wrong. Just look at this inadvisable logo 3 he walks into against the Heat with the Hornets up three, halftime approaching, and a ton of time on the shot clock.
My favorite part of that clip is play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan exclaiming "oh no" as Ball launched. There's perhaps never been a more succinct encapsulation of how Ball plays.
But that decision was merely a garden variety Ball mishap. There were far more egregious examples of him going Full LaMelo against Miami. At one point, he pulled Bam Adebayo's leg out from under him, causing Adebayo to miss the rest of the game with an injury.
bam adebayo; lamelo ball pic.twitter.com/BCgJzhF3oC
— ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) April 15, 2026
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra wasn't amused. After the loss, he was asked about Ball's actions and said "I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. It's a dangerous play." Spoelstra added that Ball should have been thrown out of the game. He wasn't, but the league did fine him $35,000. He also got hit with another $25,000 fine for cursing in the postgame interview while boasting about the game-winning shot -- which also conveniently helped everyone forget about the two boneheaded mistakes he made right before that easily could have cost the Hornets their dramatic victory.
With under 20 seconds remaining in overtime and the Hornets up two, Ball brought the ball up the floor but failed to react quickly enough to the Heat sending a double team at him before he reached halfcourt. He then panicked and threw the ball away, a costly turnover that let the Heat sprint the other direction where Tyler Herro ran to the corner and hoisted a 3-pointer. Even worse than the untimely turnover, Ball compounded his earlier mistake by fouling Herro on the shot. It was a disastrous sequence that was emblematic of how Ball's style, bad decision-making and lack of awareness can haunt his team.
Herro hit all three free throws to put the Heat up one. But because Ball made the last shot and won the game, those inexcusable miscues faded into the background. That game was a stark example of how volatile LaMelo can be on the court, but there are countless other instances that preceded it. And now it will be up to the Wolves and head coach Chris Finch to manage all the Ball boo-boos that follow.
Wolves have work to do
On paper, Ball's talent is tantalizing and there's an argument to be made that the Wolves had to roll the dice in the hyper-competitive Western Conference. They were unable to get past the conference finals in two consecutive years and got bounced in the second round this past season. Connelly obviously decided it was time for a change and evidently hopes that pairing Edwards and Ball will level up the Wolves. I'm skeptical.
The guess is that Dosumnu goes to the bench as a super sub and makes a bid for Sixth Man of the Year, because playing him as a starter along with Ball and Anthony Edwards would leave them vulnerable at the defensive end. Dosumnu is crafty but small, and the next time Ball plays good defense will be the first.
Beyond Ball, with Reid and Randle gone, who's the power forward here? Is Joan Berringer really the backup for Rudy Gobert at center? And how do they plan to address the rest of the bench? They have a team option on Terrance Shannon, while Bones Hyland, Kyle Anderson and Mike Conley are all free agents.
There's a lot of work to do in Minnesota. Connelly is one of the best executives in the NBA. He built the Nuggets roster that won the championship a few seasons ago and then overhauled the Wolves that went deep into the postseason in back-to-back years. But he doesn't have a ton of levers left to pull, considering he just gave the Hornets control of the Wolves draft for a big chunk of the next seven years. Connelly must have a vision here, but what it is beyond let Ant and LaMelo cook and hope for the best is hard to see at the moment.
Add CBS Sports on GoogleBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
