The Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets has been canceled, as announced by the team on Saturday night. This decision comes amid concerns regarding Williams’ physical condition.
In his two-plus seasons in the NBA, Williams has participated in only 85 games, primarily due to recurring back injuries that have raised red flags about his long-term availability.
Following the trade’s cancellation, the Hornets issued a statement expressing their enthusiasm for Williams’ return to the team, indicating that they are still invested in his potential.
The Lakers had initially traded rookie Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish, along with future draft picks, to secure Williams, a promising third-year center. This move was seen as essential for Los Angeles, especially after they traded Anthony Davis to Dallas in a deal that brought Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
Charlotte was set to receive the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2031 and a swap of first-round picks in 2030, making the trade significant for both teams.
The rescinding of this trade adds another layer of uncertainty for the Lakers, who have been on a roll, winning five consecutive games and 11 of their last 13, despite ongoing roster changes.
Earlier on Saturday, Los Angeles secured a 124-117 victory over Indiana, even without star players LeBron James and Doncic.
With the cancellation of the trade, the Lakers find themselves lacking a reliable big man to partner with Jaxson Hayes, who was expected to shift to a bench role. In their recent game against the Pacers, the backup center was 6-foot-10 Trey Jemison III, who joined the Lakers less than a month ago and has already played for four different teams in the last two seasons.
