LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers are set to acquire center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and some future draft assets, according to sources familiar with the transaction. The announcement comes amidst a flurry of activity from the Lakers, but the deal has not yet been finalized as of Wednesday evening.
In this trade, the Lakers will also send a first-round draft pick for 2031 and a first-round pick swap for 2030 to the Hornets. Williams, regarded as one of the more promising young centers in the NBA, represents a significant part of the Lakers’ roster transformation, which has gained attention especially after their recent acquisition of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a major deal involving Anthony Davis.
Los Angeles has made substantial changes to its team since December, crafting a roster that could contend for the championship this season, featuring the likes of Doncic and veteran superstar LeBron James, who is 40 years old. Williams’ arrival addresses the Lakers’ pressing need for depth at center, especially after Davis’ departure and the long-term injury of Christian Wood left Jaxson Hayes as the sole remaining veteran center option.
The 7-foot-2 Williams has had a rocky start to his career with the Hornets, having battled injuries over three seasons, playing only 84 games due to persistent back issues. However, when healthy, he has demonstrated significant potential. This season, Williams has averaged 16 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 22 games, particularly excelling in pick-and-roll situations with LaMelo Ball.
With a familiarity with Lakers coach JJ Redick from their shared Duke background, Williams is poised to integrate well with Doncic, as a dynamic target for lobs and pick-and-rolls. Defensively, he will need to perform at a high level, especially since the Lakers’ defensive framework heavily relied on Davis’ elite shot-blocking abilities.
He recently showcased his capabilities by achieving seven double-doubles in his last 11 games, including a standout performance with 31 points and 13 rebounds against the Jazz. Conversely, he also faced challenges, as seen in a recent game against Milwaukee where he only managed six points and five rebounds in 25 minutes while being matched up against Brook Lopez.
Williams has expressed his excitement about the trade, showing enthusiasm by sharing gold and purple hearts on social media shortly after the deal was reported. This is the second center traded by the Hornets this season, as they previously dealt Nick Richards to Phoenix for Josh Okogie and additional draft picks, indicating a long-term strategy under the new ownership of Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall.
The Hornets are actively building for future seasons by accumulating assets. They now hold their own first-round picks for the next seven years and additional picks from other teams, including a top-14 protected pick from Miami in 2027, which becomes unprotected in 2028, as well as a top-two protected pick from Dallas in 2027. They also have the right to swap first-round picks with the Lakers in 2030 and hold an unprotected first-round pick from the Lakers in 2031.
Knecht, a first-round draft pick by the Lakers last summer, has been known for his sharp shooting skills, averaging 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in his rookie year, including a standout game with 37 points where he tied the record by making nine three-pointers in November. However, his playing time has decreased in the recent months. Reddish, on the other hand, has averaged 3.3 points per game in his second year with the Lakers, a reduction in minutes following Redick’s appointment as coach compared to the previous season.
Currently, Doncic has been sidelined since Christmas due to a strained left calf and is anticipated to make his debut with the Lakers on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. However, no final decisions on his participation will be made until Saturday morning. In the meantime, this trade marks the seventh player the Lakers have sent away from their opening night roster, providing an opportunity to create room for additional depth going forward. The Hornets are scheduled to play the Lakers on February 19.
