Business has officially picked up for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ offseason after the team acquired star point guard LaMelo Ball on Thursday.
The Wolves traded center Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three second-round picks (2029, 2032 and 2033) and swapped three first-round picks (2028, 2029 and 2030) with the Charlotte Hornets for Ball and guard Josh Green in what will be one of the biggest deals of the entire NBA offseason.
This is just the latest massive trade to go down in the NBA after Giannis Antetokounmpo was shipped off to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
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While Ball isn’t quite the superstar talent Giannis is, his going to Minnesota does greatly improve the Wolves, and that is clearly reflected in the NBA title odds after the trade.
Timberwolves NBA title odds after LaMelo Ball trade
According to DraftKings, the Wolves’ NBA title odds went from +3000 before the Ball trade to +2200. Those rank as the sixth-best odds in the NBA, and the third-best in the west.
Minnesota’s odds of winning the Western Conference also jumped to +1200 from +1400.
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Of course, the Hornets are going in the complete opposite direction.
Their Eastern Conference odds fell to +4000 from +2000, and Charlotte’s NBA title odds plummeting to +20000 from +14000.
What LaMelo Ball trade means for Timberwolves
After pulling off a first-round upset over the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, the Wolves fell short in the second round against the San Antonio Spurs, but they did put up a good fight.
Acquiring Ball puts the Timberwolves in a better position to compete with the truly elite teams in the Western Conference, like the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
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This deal should also please Minnesota’s superstar, Anthony Edwards, especially after the team shipped Julius Randle off to the Brooklyn Nets recently.
Edwards has reportedly been frustrated since the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, so it was important for Minnesota to make a big move to please its best player.
Trading for Ball certainly checks that box and should keep Edwards happy for the foreseeable future.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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