According to Chris Haynes, the Wolves have checked in about the potential trade availability of LaMelo Ball.
Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Upon their failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, the Minnesota Timberwolves also actually considered the potential acquisition of LaMelo Ball.
Per NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Timberwolves considered exploring a deal with the Charlotte Hornets, but the rising East team's ongoing hot run has kept Ball beyond the NBA trade deadline.
"They were also in the mix, or trying to get in the mix, with another star: Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball. I was told they checked in with Charlotte and were trying to figure out if anything could materialize," Haynes said. "But the Hornets have been playing tremendous basketball, riding a late seven-game winning streak. I was told that Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson wants to give this core group time to gel and figure things out. That’s why he didn’t trade any members of the core. They want to see what they can accomplish for the duration of the season, and he feels they’re owed that opportunity.
"We’ll see what happens in the offseason as it pertains to Charlotte and their core pieces. But Minnesota was aggressive, trying to bring in a star to help alongside Anthony Edwards."
Ball is averaging 19.1 points, 7.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds this season, leading the Hornets just 3.5 games away from the first Play-In seeding of the East.
Both Ball and Edwards are two of the Top 3 picks of the 2020 NBA Draft and established a connection on and off the court.
Depending on how this season ends for the Hornets, Minnesota can only continue monitoring the market status of Ball.
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