Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was their big man of the future until suddenly, he wasn’t.
After the Los Angeles front office offered quite a bit to get Williams as the perfect lob threat for Luka Doncic, the trade was rescinded and the Lakers were left without a center capable of replacing Anthony Davis in the starting lineup.
Williams, who was mentored by Lakers head coach JJ Redick during his time at Duke, has had trouble staying healthy during his professional career.
The big man reportedly failed his physical and the trade was called off after the deadline, so Los Angeles could not offer a similar trade package to other teams to try and land a different target like Utah’s Walker Kessler.
Instead, assuming the two parties cannot work out their differences, the Lakers will have to reply on someone else to play center. Now, the Lakers will have Jaxson Hayes in their starting five. But even that comes with some concerns (via ESPN):
“It’s a major role for him, and one that James had privately wondered whether the 24-year-old Hayes was experienced enough to occupy in a playoff run next to Davis before Davis was traded, sources said. Without Davis, the responsibilities multiply.”
As the Lakers look for a backup for Hayes, they will have to turn to free agency and the buyout market. There, the options are not exactly splendid. Lakers executive Rob Pelinka is expected to make a decision in the “next few days” to address the position
Meanwhile, the players they originally offered to get Williams (like rookie Dalton Knecht) had to return to their original team. As you can imagine, it was awkward.
The Charlotte Hornets have been in contact with the NBA as they explore options to dispute the Los Angeles Lakers' failed physical assessment of Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. The Williams/Dalton Knecht trade was nixed Saturday, and now Hornets weigh avenues to challenge.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 11, 2025
Everything remains in limbo, per Shams Charania, as the Hornets reportedly plan to appeal the failed physical assessment of Williams.
Knecht is currently out of the rotation for the Lakers as everyone figures out the next steps. But no matter what the resolution may look like, this one is a tricky situation.
The Hornets issued a statement explaining that Williams’ return strengthens their team while simultaneously attempting to “weigh avenues to challenge” the Los Angeles decision. Perhaps the deal is amended and some of the picks are altered in some way?
This is about as messy as it gets for a trade and it simply sucks for everyone involved.
Can make 2 arguments on Mark Williams:
CHA: Why would they dispute if they didn't feel like they have a STRONG case? Shine more of a light on MW's health for no reason? Think LAL got cold feet when they realized they over paid
LAL: Wouldn't overpaying a little be FAR…
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) February 11, 2025
Knecht is in the middle of it as a first-year pro who does not know his place in the league. Williams’ reputation took a hit by failing a physical and his value is not what it was before the rescinded transaction.
Los Angeles and Charlotte are both stuck not knowing what comes next and can’t make any subsequent moves, either.
Are teams going to want to trade with the Hornets again knowing they may trade damaged goods? Did the Lakers get cold feet and potentially fail his physical if they decided they may have traded too much?
Something simply has to give, but it unclear what exactly it will be or when.
LeBron James' message to Luka Doncic was notably the opposite of what he once told Kevin Love
Luka Doncic looked so happy during his first game playing for the Lakers
Luka Doncic looked so happy during his first game playing for the Lakers
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