LOS ANGELES-- On Wednesday, the night before the trade deadline, news broke that the Lakers were acquiring a new big man to replace Anthony Davis following their blockbuster deal landing Luka Dončić: Hornets 23-year-old center Mark Williams.
The deal, which originally had rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2023 pick swap, and a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, has been rescinded due to failure to satisfy a condition of the trade, the team announced on Saturday night after the Lakers 124-117 win over the Pacers.
Days following the trade, before any light of it being rescinded, the Lakers had yet to give any details of Williams' availability and when he'd make his debut.
Before the Lakers matchup against the Pacers, head coach JJ Redick was asked about Williams' status and his response: “The trade is still pending.” Which left confusion on why they had yet to give an update.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers failed Williams’ physical after finding multiple issues, making it clear that it was not failed because of his back.
Mark Williams' physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam, sources tell ESPN. The physical was not failed due to his back, however. https://t.co/lY4XrSIlHf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025
Williams has missed 128 out of 213 games over multiple injuries in two and a half season's with the Hornets in his young NBA career.
Now all players—and draft capital traded—involved have to awkwardly head back to the teams that delated them. Another example of how much of a business the association is.
Although this saved the Lakers in the long run, not giving up what at the time was an overpriced deal for Williams. They get back an unprotected 2031 first-round pick that they can now use at their disposal this offseason and next season.
In the short run, it hurts the Lakers' championship aspirations surrounding Dončić and LeBron James, whose window is closing, with a now gaping hole in the Lakers starting center position.
Knecht and Reddish’s return puts the Lakers at a full 15-man roster, which now puts them on a different path to constructing a roster set for Williams’ arrival.
They had just signed Jordan Goodwin on Friday to a two-year contract and provided serviceable minutes with 10 points in 24 minutes off the bench against Indiana. Signing Goodwin at the time was a position of need with Knecht and Reddish dealt to Charlotte.
Now the Lakers have to cut a player to make room for a center that fits Redick's system and around Dončiċ in their hopes for a deep playoff run.
And with the trade deadline already past, their only option is the buy-out market or free-agent players, which isn't better than what they have on their current roster.