CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The representative for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams has asserted that the Los Angeles Lakers made an erroneous decision when they failed his client’s physical examination, a decision that led to the trade being nullified after the trade deadline.
On February 6, the Hornets reached an agreement to trade the 7-foot Williams to the Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a first-round draft choice in 2031, and a swap of picks in 2030. However, the Lakers ultimately judged Williams unfit after the examination, forcing a return of all players to their original teams.
Jeff Schwartz, Williams’ agent, expressed the prevailing view from several respected medical professionals, emphasizing, “The overwhelming sentiment…is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical. Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been given that opportunity.”
The Lakers opted not to comment on the situation through a spokesperson.
In his return match with the Hornets on Wednesday night, Williams played for 29 minutes, contributing 10 points and securing nine rebounds in a narrow 100-97 victory over the Lakers.
Throughout his three-year career in the NBA, Williams has faced recurring back problems and has never participated in more than 43 games during a single season. Currently, he holds averages of 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
In the aftermath of the canceled trade, the Los Angeles team has shifted focus by signing center Alex Len. However, the situation has resulted in discomfort for players who now find themselves back with teams that seemingly lost interest in having them.
Although the Hornets contemplated taking action against the Lakers within the league’s framework, they ultimately did not pursue an official grievance. Williams, who was selected with the 15th pick overall in the 2022 draft out of Duke, subsequently signed a four-year contract worth $18 million with the Hornets.
