The Charlotte Hornets are expected to dispute the Los Angeles Lakers’ claim that Mark Williams failed a physical assessment.
ESPN’s Shams Charania shared via X.
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
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
The Lakers rescinded the Williams trade on Saturday night after they said he failed the team’s physical.
The deal between the Hornets and Lakers, which took place on Wednesday night, centered Williams from the Hornets. In return, L.A. was sending out guard Dalton Knecht, forward Cam Reddish, the 2031 first-round draft pick, and a pick-swap.
Williams was supposed to be the starting big man for the Lakers after they traded away Anthony Davis in exchange for Luka Dončić in a blockbuster trade on Feb. 1.; however, that will no longer be the case for L.A.
The Lakers were concerned with the long-term health of Williams, and rightfully so, as he has missed over 60 percent of the possible games he could have played in his three-year career. Most notably for separate back and foot injuries.
Williams, who stands at seven feet tall and appeared in 22 games (19 starts) for the Hornets this season, is averaging 16.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 25.0 minutes.
What this means moving forward is unclear. It is still too early to tell.
The Hornets released a statement hours after the trade was officially rescinded.
“We are excited to welcome Mark back to our Hornets organization. After the other team aggressively pursued Mark, we made the difficult decision to move him. We have always held great respect for Mark’s talent, work ethic, and character. We are thrilled to see him rejoin our roster as a dynamic presence at the starting center position. His return strengthens our team, and we look forward to the impact he will make on and off the court.”
As things stand, the Lakers will remain without a legitimate starting-caliber center for the rest of the season. Instead, the Lakers will seek some production from Jaxson Hayes, Christian Koloko, and Trey Jemison III. Two of those three are on two-way contracts.
The Lakers will likely sign a big name from the buyout market, but for the most part, they will look to be dominant using their small-ball lineup, headlined by LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Dončić.
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