In a trade few could have predicted, the Charlotte Hornets shipped their franchise cornerstone, LaMelo Ball, to the Minnesota Timberwolves to join forces with Anthony Edwards. Now, whether that fit works is a discussion for another time, the true talking point of this deal is how much the Timberwolves gave up to make this trade a reality. If Ball is worth such a significant portion of draft capital alongside Naz Reid, the Philadelphia 76ers may have to consider cashing in on Tyrese Maxey.
Tyrese Maxey could hold the key to Philadelphia's future
What Maxey can do on a court is sensational, but sometimes rebuilding for the future takes a general manager to step up and make some unpopular decisions. As it stands, Maxey is the most valuable asset the 76ers have on their roster, despite still having a three-year, $130,746,840 contract to see out.
According to Spotrac, LaMelo Ball has the same time and value remaining on his contract, indicating that teams are willing to absorb this financial burden while paying a handsome price to secure his signature.
To acquire the 2020 Rookie of the Year, the Timberwolves compensated the Hornets with Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033).
From a seller's perspective, there is no way to be disappointed with the draft capital received in this deal. Charlotte is in a position in which they want to build around the young core of Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. If the Philadelphia 76ers wish to go down the same route, given Tyrese Maxey's standing in the NBA compared to that of LaMelo Ball, it is difficult to argue that the 76ers guard wouldn't demand a similar, if not larger payment.
Ball has not reached the heights of Maxey
After being selected 20 places below the 2020 top draft pick, Tyrese Maxey has surpassed LaMelo Ball on almost every level. Ball may be a more natural playmaker, but Maxey's devastating scoring presence on a playoff-caliber team would make him a more attractive proposition to most interested franchises.
During the 2025-26 season, Maxey made another leap and bested his Charlotte-based counterpart over several categories. The 25-year-old averaged 28.3 points and 1.9 steals, while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and recording a league-high 38 minutes per game.
Additionally, when it comes to Maxey, a team can still expect a high volume of shots attempted, but none of which will be as flamboyant and as ridiculous as the ones Ball lets fly. There is no doubt that when LaMelo drains one of these unconventional one-footed 3-point attempts, a spectator is in awe of the magic they have just witnessed. However, this kind of offense is not sustainable on a winning team, which, in my opinion, should cement Maxey as the most inviting trade target.
While the Philadelphia 76ers will undoubtedly prefer to hold onto Tyrese Maxey, if Mike Gansey's vision is to build for the future, then cashing in on their emerging superstar is the best option. The Charlotte Hornets' ability to accrue a significant amount of draft capital for LaMelo Ball must have the Sixers pondering Maxey's value in the current market.
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