Lakers Acquire Center Mark Williams in Massive Trade with Hornets
February 6, 2025
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The Los Angeles Lakers have made yet another trade as we approach Thursday’s deadline.
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The Lakers have landed center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap
ESPN’s Shams Charania shared via X.
Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Mark Williams #5 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates with Gordon Hayward #20 after making a basket during the fourth period of a basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center on February 13, 2023… Mark Williams #5 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates with Gordon Hayward #20 after making a basket during the fourth period of a basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center on February 13, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Williams, 23, spent three seasons with the Hornets and is a former first-round draft pick in 2022.
Los Angeles was in desperate need of a big man after they traded away their All-NBA center, Anthony Davis, in exchange for Luka Dončić, and they got their big man as the trade deadline nears its end.
Lakers general manager and vice president of basketball operations Rob Peinka said during Dončić’s press conference on Tuesday that he would likely make a move around the margins.
However, with this move, Pelinka trades away their highly coveted 2031 first-round pick. Nonetheless, it is for a player who the Lakers can lean on for years to come alongside Dončić, who is only 25 years old.
Williams has been rock solid for the lowly Hornets this season, averaging 16 points and 9.8 rebounds per game on 59.7 percent shooting and 1.2 blocks. The former Duke product stands at 7 feet, 241 pounds, and he has the size to match force with the best bigs in the Western Conference.
In the process, the Lakers get rid of their rookie sharpshooter Knecht, who they were very fond of as they selected him with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His rookie season was a roller coaster.
Knecht finished his Lakers career averaging 9.4 points per game on 46.5 percent shooting and 35.8 percent shooting from three.
As for Reddish, he was a non-factor for most of his stint in Los Angeles. He spent two seasons in L.A., where he averaged 3.3 points and was a negative on offense. At times, his defense was above average, but other than that, he was a minus on the team.
Williams, on the other hand, will be a great and much-needed addition to the Lakers. With this trade, the Lakers open up a roster spot, so expect L.A. to continue to make moves as we approach Thursday.
Williams has suffered back and foot issues in the past, but the Lakers are confident that he is healed and are getting back a top center with Dončić’s archetype.
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For more NBA news and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
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