Minnesota agreed to acquire LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets on June 25. Krawczynski reported for The Athletic the next day that the Timberwolves had talked with Boston about Brown before the Ball deal, and that the Celtics wanted Gobert, Reid, and pick compensation similar to what Minnesota sent Charlotte.
“The Celtics wanted Rudy and Naz, and it was going to be just too high of a price to pay,” Krawczynski said.
Minnesota Timberwolves Sent Naz Reid To Charlotte Hornets For LaMelo Ball
In the Ball trade, Minnesota sent Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033 to Charlotte. The Hornets sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota. The deal became official in July as part of a four-team trade that also moved Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
Ball averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 72 games last season, with 69 starts. He was the third pick in the 2020 draft, two spots after Anthony Edwards went first overall, and he turned 25 on Aug. 22. Green was traded again in late August, going to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar.
Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and made the All-Defensive First Team for the eighth time last season. Reid had played all seven of his NBA seasons in Minnesota before the trade.
Krawczynski wrote on X on June 25 that the Timberwolves saw Ball as a closer fit for what they needed, at a lower likely cost in outgoing players and picks. In his June 26 story for The Athletic, he reported that Minnesota also held discussions with Chicago about Josh Giddey before the Ball deal came together.
“I do think the Wolves are happier with the LaMelo fit, a little more than they would’ve been with the Jaylen fit,” Krawczynski explained.
Jaylen Brown Went To Philadelphia 76ers For Paul George
Boston traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers on July 1 for Paul George, first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, and second-round picks in 2028 and 2030. The trade became official July 6. Brown had played all 10 of his NBA seasons in Boston after the Celtics drafted him third overall in 2016. Before the Philadelphia deal, the Celtics offered Brown and two unprotected first-round picks to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Milwaukee traded Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat instead.
Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season and finished fourth in the league in scoring. He placed sixth in MVP voting. He was the 2024 Finals MVP and is a five-time All-Star, and he turns 30 on Oct. 24. His contract pays $57 million this season, $61 million in 2027-28, and $64.9 million in 2028-29. George is owed $54.1 million this season and holds a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28.
The Celtics also agreed to a one-year deal with Mike Conley on July 1, and the signing became official July 6. Conley spent parts of the last four seasons with the Timberwolves and enters his 20th NBA season at 38. He averaged 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 54 games last season.
