26

Jun

Trade Period

Running with the Wolves: Green traded to Minnesota

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basketball.com.au

Running with the Wolves: Green traded to Minnesota
Running with the Wolves: Green traded to Minnesota

LaMelo Ball #1 and Josh Green #10 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrate a 103-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 10, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. Photo: Soobum Im/Getty Images

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Josh Green has found a new home, traded with LaMelo Ball to join Anthony Edwards at the Timberwolves

Aussie wing Josh Green is on the move after being traded alongside teammate and former NBL Next Star LaMelo Ball to join superstar Anthony Edwards at the Minnesota Timberwolves, ESPN's Shams Charania first reported.

Charania reported Minnesota traded sharpshooting big man Naz Reid as well as a 2033 unprotected first-round pick and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033) and the teams will also swap three first-round picks in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Ball, 24, and Green, 25, move to a revamped Timberwolves team with general manager Tim Connolly reshaping the roster around Edwards despite two Western Conference Finals appearances in recent seasons.

Australian centre Rocco Zikarsky is a two-way player for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs after beating Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and traded away scoring big man Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a salary dump before the NBA Draft.

The Timberwolves needed a secondary playmaker behind Edwards – a role Ball fits perfectly as the rising Hornets go in a different direction after making the Play-In Tournament and having a successful season under Charles Lee.

Charlotte are loaded at the guard and wing positions, leaving Ball and three-and-d specialist Green to be dispensable, and needed size to bolster their roster, which they acquired in the draft as well as by bringing in former Sixth Man of the Year in Reid from Minnesota.

Minnesota will be Green's third home in the NBA after being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and then being traded to the Hornets in 2024.

The 25-year-old Sydney guard had an injury-riddled 2025-26 season with Charlotte, playing just 58 games after missing the start of the campaign due to shoulder surgery.

Green had his worst statistical season since his rookie year, playing just 15.7 minutes per game and averaging 4.3 points but still shot 42% from the three-point line.

The Australian Boomers Olympic bronze medallist from the 2021 Tokyo Games will provide much-needed defensive prowess and three-point shooting alongside Jaden McDaniels, who starred for the Timberwolves and coach Chris Finch in the 2026 playoffs.

Minnesota trading for Ball and Green puts to bed the rumours of interest from the Timberwolves in Australian and Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey.

Josh Green's Career Statistics

Season Team GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK FG% 3PT% FT%
2020-21 Dallas 39 5 11.4 2.6 2.0 0.7 0.4 0.1 45.2% 16.0% 56.5%
2021-22 Dallas 67 3 15.5 4.8 2.4 1.2 0.7 0.2 50.8% 35.9% 68.9%
2022-23 Dallas 60 21 25.7 9.1 3.0 1.7 0.7 0.1 53.7% 40.2% 72.3%
2023-24 Dallas 57 33 26.4 8.2 3.2 2.3 0.8 0.2 47.9% 38.5% 68.4%
2024-25 Charlotte 68 67 27.8 7.4 2.5 1.6 1.1 0.2 42.8% 39.1% 68.1%
2025-26 Charlotte 58 0 15.7 4.3 1.8 0.8 0.6 0.1 45.9% 42.0% 89.3%
Career 6 Seasons 349 129 21.0 6.3 2.5 1.4 0.7 0.1 48.0% 38.7% 70.5%
Dallas Mavericks 4 Seasons 223 62 20.3 6.4 2.7 1.5 0.7 0.1 50.3% 37.5% 68.9%
Charlotte Hornets 2 Seasons 126 67 22.2 5.9 2.2 1.2 0.9 0.2 43.7% 40.2% 74.7%

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