Hornets trade LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid and draft assets

Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said the LaMelo Ball trade was made to build sustained success and eventually compete for championships. Peterson called the decision "probably the most difficult" he has had to make. He addressed reporters Saturday in Las Vegas after the trade became official.

The Hornets sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three second-round picks and three first-round pick swaps. The deal was part of a four-team transaction that also included Brooklyn and Chicago. "The goal is never to compete for a play-in spot," Peterson said.

" "Getting Naz Reid when you can get a player of his caliber and of course the draft capital and the flexibility just felt like it was something that was able to achieve multiple goals in one transaction," Peterson added. The trade came after the Hornets recorded the second-best turnaround in the NBA last season. Charlotte finished with 44 wins after posting 19 victories the previous year.

The team won 32 of its final 45 games and finished with the top-ranked offense and fifth-ranked defense. Charlotte defeated Miami in the first play-in game before losing to Orlando and missing the playoffs. Peterson said he considered the full picture rather than only the second-half surge.

He noted the franchise has not reached the postseason since 2016, the longest active drought in the NBA. "LaMelo was tremendous in our run last year," Peterson said.