AI Summary
5 min readThe Charlotte Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal that sent Naz Reid and a package of draft picks to Charlotte, and the Lakers are already looking to move on from DeAndre Ayton after just one season. Ben Maller graded the trade decisively in Minnesota's favor, questioned the Hornets' logic, and explained why Ayton's latest stop ended the same way as his previous ones.
The Timberwolves go all in
Maller gave the Timberwolves a 10-7 score on his judges' scorecards, calling it a "no-brainer" and an "overwhelming dominance in the trade." Minnesota sent Naz Reid, three first-round pick swaps, one unprotected first-round pick, and a collection of second-round selections to Charlotte for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green. Maller's argument is simple: Minnesota got the better player. Ball is a 25-year-old former All-Star point guard who now becomes the co-star alongside Anthony Edwards. "You were looking for your co-star," Maller said. "Melo's job is simple. You have to pave what road? The yellow brick road. So the Ant Man and Ant Army can sprint down it to the NBA Finals."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:48) **Timberwolves Acquire LaMelo Ball from Hornets** - The trade is announced: Minnesota sends Naz Reid, Josh Green, and a package of picks to Charlotte for LaMelo Ball.
- 2 (14:27) **Hornets' Side of the Trade: Questioning the Logic** - Ben critiques Charlotte's decision to trade LaMelo Ball, calling it "galaxy brain logic."
- 3 (17:15) **Lakers Ready to Move On from DeAndre Ayton** - Reports indicate the Lakers have no intention of keeping DeAndre Ayton past this summer, even if he opts into his $8.1 million player option.
- 4 (38:13) **Giants CEO Larry Baer's No-Follow-Up Interview** - Ben discusses the controversy around the San Francisco Giants' Pride Night, noting that CEO Larry Baer gave a prepared statement on the team's propaganda station and barred hosts from asking follow-up questions.
- 5 (44:58) **Insta Trivia Payoff** - The answer to the trivia question is revealed: Dansby Swanson of the Cubs was the worst hitter in MLB from May 1 to June 16, then the best hitter from June 17 to present.
- 6 (46:39) **Maller to the Third Degree with Bree** - A rapid-fire segment covering three topics:
- 7 Standout Quotes
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ben Maller begins hour 2 asking what the Charlotte Hornets were thinking about trading LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves + Maller to The Third Degree!
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