CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The agent representing Mark Williams, the center for the Charlotte Hornets, criticized the Los Angeles Lakers for failing his client’s physical examination, which led to the cancellation of a trade agreement.
On February 6, the Hornets had finalized a deal to send the 7-foot Williams to the Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a first-round draft pick in 2031, and a pick swap in 2030. However, the Lakers’ decision to pass Williams on the physical led to the deal falling through, resulting in the players returning to their original teams.
In a statement released on Friday, Williams’ agent Jeff Schwartz expressed his disappointment, stating, “After discussions with several nationally recognized doctors, it’s clear that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have deemed Mark Williams unfit during his physical. He was prepared to contribute and should have been given that chance.”
The Lakers have opted not to comment on the situation, as noted by a team spokesman.
Williams returned to the Hornets for their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, where he played for 29 minutes, scoring 10 points and securing nine rebounds, leading to a narrow victory of 100-97.
Despite having faced back issues throughout his three-year NBA career and never playing more than 43 games in a season, Williams is currently averaging 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season. Following the trade incident, the Lakers have signed center Alex Len as they adjust to the situation.
The aftermath of the failed deal has placed players in an uncomfortable scenario, having to play for teams that showed interest in trading them away. Although the Hornets considered taking steps against the Lakers within league channels, they ultimately did not file an official complaint. Williams, who was selected 15th overall in the 2022 draft out of Duke, signed a four-year contract worth $18 million with the Hornets.
