SI:AM | LaMelo Traded to Western Conference Contender

DAN GARTLAND 

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I’m glad the LaMelo Ball news broke when it did, instead of right after I sent this email.  

In today’s SI:AM:

👋 LaMelo Ball traded

☘️ Jaylen Brown next?

⚾ MLB’s best young stars 

NBA offseason kicks into high gear

 Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images

The NBA’s Western Conference just got even tougher. 

The Timberwolves have agreed to acquire LaMelo Ball from the Hornets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. Minnesota will receive Ball and Josh Green in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three second-round picks and three first-round pick swaps.

⚽ Check out SI’s World Cup Daily

The deal comes just hours after Charania first said during ESPN’s draft coverage that multiple teams were in talks with Charlotte to acquire Ball. The Bucks and Raptors were among the other teams interested in trading for him, according to multiple reports. 

Ball won the Rookie of the Year in 2020–21 and was named to the All-Star team the following season, but injuries limited him to just 105 games between the ’22–23 and ’24–25 seasons. He finally had a fully healthy season this year, playing in 72 games as he led the Hornets on a late-season surge to finish with their best record in a decade and reach the play-in tournament. CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI 

  

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👀 The top five …

… things I saw yesterday: 

5. Mr. and Mrs. Met doing the Norway rowwith a bunch of soccer fans at Citi Field. 

4. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa’s moment on the field with his kids after coming on as a substitute to appear in his sixth career World Cup. Ochoa was also mobbed by his teammates after the final whistle. 

3. Paul Goldschmidt’s two home runs off of Tarik Skubal. The 38-year-old Goldschmidt is having his best season at the plate in years, and he’s been especially great against lefties like Skubal. He’s batting .408/.489/.816 with eight homers in 88 plate appearances against lefties this season. 

2. Mateo Chávez’s great run for Mexico’s first goal. 

1. Thapelo Maseko’s goal that gave South Africa an upset win over South Korea. South Africa will advance to the knockout stage for the first time in its history.  

🎥 The best of SI video

 

In the latest Open Floor podcast, Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols break down the Jaylen Brown situation in Boston, whether the Bucks received enough from the Heat in the Giannis trade and the Wizards’ selection of AJ Dybantsa.  


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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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