Minnesota kicked the tires on the LaMelo Ball trade for Treo Young

The Minnesota Timberwolves they’re currently lurking in the middle of the Western Conference playoff hunt, but that hasn’t stopped the front office from dreaming big. In a move that stands out only how aggressive Minnesota is ahead of the trade deadline, a new report suggests the Wolves recently kicked the tires on a potential blockbuster Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Timberwolves reached out to Charlotte to evaluate the availability of their franchise point guard. While a deal for a star of Ball’s caliber would send shockwaves through the league, Minnesota appears to have done a little window shopping. Sources indicate the Wolves were essentially “price checking” Ball to see if his trade value was comparable to that of the Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young.

The Timberwolves check in with the Hornets at Lamelo Ball, per @ChrisBHaines pic.twitter.com/b0IMHB4K2m

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) February 6, 2026

The fit with Anthony Edwards is easy to see on paper; a dynamic, speedy playmaker like Ball paired with the scoring edge of Edwards would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. However, the Hornets are in no rush to break up the band. Charlotte is riding a huge wave of momentum right now, having secured her seventh straight win on Monday night.

In that last win, a 102-95 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans, LaMelo Ball was at the center of it all. Despite a scary head-to-head collision early in the game with head coach Charles Lee, Ball finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. He led a blistering comeback with 22 points, showing exactly why Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson is hesitant to move him.

Peterson reportedly wants to give this current core time to gel, especially with the way they’ve responded to Lee’s coaching during this win streak. The search for a secondary playmaker continues for Minnesota.

While Ball’s landing may have been a long shot, the investigation proves it The Timberwolves are willing to explore each time to turn their roster into a legitimate title contender. For now, Ball remains the centerpiece of an up-and-coming Charlotte squad that finally seems to have figured things out.