PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have made a significant move by acquiring center Mark Williams in a deal where they will exchange two first-round picks with the Charlotte Hornets. This information was provided by a source close to the transaction, who requested anonymity as the trade has yet to be officially confirmed.
The Charlotte Hornets are set to receive this year’s 29th overall pick, which they used to select UConn guard Liam McNeeley, along with a 2029 first-round pick. Initial reports regarding this trade surfaced from various sports news outlets.
Williams is one of the two towering centers added by the Suns during the initial round of the NBA draft. They are also set to acquire Duke center Khaman Maluach through a trade with the Rockets, who picked him with the 10th overall selection. This move is part of a bigger trade involving the transit of 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to Houston.
Williams, standing tall at seven feet, recorded an average of 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game during his time with the Hornets last year, showcasing his ability provided he remains free of injury. He entered the NBA as the 15th overall pick from Duke in the 2022 draft.
Previously, the Hornets attempted to trade Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the transaction was withdrawn when Williams did not clear his physical examination. At that time, the Lakers had agreed to send rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and additional draft considerations to acquire Williams, who was in his third professional year as a renowned Duke alumnus. The Lakers were seeking a suitable replacement for Anthony Davis, who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks alongside Max Christie in exchange for superstar Luka Doncic.
As part of the initial agreement, Charlotte would have received the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2031 and a first-round pick swap in 2030. But, after delving deeper into Williams’ medical history, particularly his back issues that restricted him to 84 out of 212 possible NBA games over three seasons, the Lakers annulled the agreement.
Following this, the Hornets issued a statement welcoming Williams back to the team, albeit the nature of the situation resulted in a less than comfortable atmosphere. It remains uncertain whether Williams has undergone a new physical examination or received a medical review by the Phoenix medical staff at present.