Mark Williams does not accept the Los Angeles Lakers’ explanation for canceling a trade that would have moved him from the Charlotte Hornets to L.A. in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and future draft picks. Instead, he suspects that the Lakers experienced buyer’s remorse after agreeing to the deal.
“I don’t know if it was about what they gave up or what went into that,” Williams shared after his first game back with Charlotte, which ended in a 100-97 victory over the Lakers. “But I don’t think it was solely because of my physical. I’ve been playing all year, and my minutes and production on the court reflect that.”
When FOX Sports inquired if he believed the Lakers had regrets, Williams shrugged.
“That’s a question for them, not for me,” he replied. “I was initially excited about the opportunity. I felt I could have contributed to their success. But, obviously, they had second thoughts.”
At just 23 years old, Williams has played only 86 games since being selected 15th overall by the Hornets in the 2022 NBA Draft. A back injury limited him to just 19 games last season, and a strained tendon in his left foot kept him sidelined until December 3 of this season.
However, Williams firmly believes he should not have failed the physical exam.
“It’s crucial to understand that the games I missed during my rookie year were due to being in the G League, not because I was injured,” he explained. “Last year, I had a long-term back injury, but I’ve been 100 percent healthy since then — even the Lakers acknowledged that. I’ve been documented every time I’ve been hurt, and I am fully fit now.”
His agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, echoed Williams’ sentiments, stating to ESPN, “After consulting with multiple nationally recognized doctors, the consensus is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical.”
This season, Williams has averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks in just 21 minutes per game. Notably, in two of his final three games before the February 6 trade, he recorded at least 20 points and 14 rebounds.
The Lakers viewed Williams as a promising young talent who could address their pressing need for a center, particularly after trading Anthony Davis to Dallas for Luka Doncic earlier this month.
In their pursuit of Williams, the Lakers sacrificed significant assets, including Knecht, a highly regarded 23-year-old prospect, and a first-round draft pick. It was evident that the Lakers aimed to strengthen their frontcourt and surround superstars LeBron James and Doncic with the right players to contend for a championship.
Williams was at a hotel in Los Angeles when he learned that the Lakers had rescinded the trade just 48 hours later.
His initial reaction?
“I was shocked,” he said. “I didn’t think there was any chance I could fail my physical. Every time I’ve been out, it has been documented.”
Williams chose not to ask the Lakers for clarification on why he failed the physical.
The canceled trade left both teams and the players involved in an uncomfortable situation. The Hornets expressed their excitement to have Williams back, stating that the Lakers had “aggressively pursued” him. Reports indicated that the Hornets were considering challenging the Lakers’ medical evaluation.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned during the All-Star weekend that the Hornets had not yet filed an appeal and raised questions regarding potential changes to league policy surrounding such situations.
“The larger issue reflected in your question, in this day and age in sports science, is whether we should apply a different standard in terms of players passing physicals in trades,” Silver stated. “It’s something we should evaluate as a league.”
While it is uncommon for a trade to be canceled due to a failed physical, it has occurred before. The Oklahoma City Thunder failed Tyson Chandler’s physical in 2009, and in 2016, the Detroit Pistons did the same with Donatas Motiejunas.
When asked about how Williams has coped with the situation, Hornets coach Charles Lee expressed confidence in his player.
Despite the whirlwind experience, Williams remains focused.
He told FOX Sports that he had spoken to a couple of Lakers players after the trade fell through but had not connected with LeBron James or Luka Doncic.
Following Wednesday’s game, James was asked about facing his would-be teammate.
“He was never a teammate,” James remarked. “He never stepped into the locker room. We never saw him. We knew the trade went down, but when it was rescinded, it was just back to what it was before. So it was no different.”
During the game, Williams witnessed James’ talent firsthand, as James dunked over him in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 80-80 with 6:46 remaining. However, the Hornets secured the victory, which was the most important takeaway for Williams.
“I’m not concerned about getting dunked on,” he stated. “I’m focused on contesting every shot and making the right plays to help us win — and that’s what we accomplished.”
Now, Williams is determined to focus on his basketball career.
After being in the spotlight for weeks due to this unusual situation, he is eager to demonstrate his skills on the court.
“I just want to keep playing games,” he concluded. “It’s all behind me now.”
