While the Los Angeles Lakers are likely bummed, their trade with the Charlotte Hornets fell through; the Hornets are ecstatic to welcome their young starting center. Following the Lakers’ voiding of Mark Williams trade yesterday, Charlotte released a statement welcoming the 23-year-old back to the team.
“We are excited to welcome Mark back to out to our organization,” the Hornets PR Statement read. ‘We are thrilled to see him rejoin our roster as a dynamic presence at the starting center position. His return strengthens our team and we look forward to the impact he will make on and off the court.”
Hornets Ecstatic to Get Young Center Back, What Does Lakers Rescindment of Trade Mean For Future?
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Los Angeles reportedly rescinded the trade after finding multiple injury issues during Williams’ physical exam. Charania added that Williams’ failed physical was not due to his back issues.
Williams has battled injuries throughout his playing career, dating back to his playing career at Duke. His rookie season got off to a rocky start, as he dealt with ankle sprains and a thumb injury that limited his first season to 43 appearances. His second campaign was just as disappointing on the injury front, as he suited up just 19 games due to a back injury. He didn’t make his 2024-25 debut until December and has appeared in 23 contests this season.
Overall, Williams has played in only 40% of all the Hornets games over his two-and-a-half years. Still, he has been very productive in those games and has shown improvement each season. The No. 15 pick in the 2022 NBA draft has started 39 of his last 42 appearances.
Williams has been excellent in the games he has played. He is a beast inside, converting nearly 75% of his attempts from three feet and in, with several of his makes being dunks and on the glass. He is also outstanding at drawing fouls and getting to the foul line. Additionally, he is an elite rim protector and solid low-post defender.
When Will Mark Williams Suit Up Again and Other Injury Updates
Williams is having a career season. He averages 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks despite shooting a career-worst 58.6% from the field. He has compiled eight double-doubles and reached double-figures in scoring 18 times, topping the 20-point mark six times and the 30-point plateau twice.
Williams wasn’t with the team in Detroit for their afternoon game. The Hornets (13-37), once again shorthanded, lost to the Pistons 112-102. The Hornets have now lost nine of their last eleven contests.
Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer said that it was unknown whether Williams would be with the Hornets tomorrow in Brooklyn. The Hornets also had LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Nick Smith Jr. (back) against the Pistons after both were considered questionable. The trio joined Josh Green, Jusuf Nurkic, and Josh Okogie on the sidelines for the game.
Then, during the game, Moussa Diabate suffered a right eye injury. Diabate left the contest against the Pistons after seven minutes due to the injury. He is considered questionable for tomorrow’s contest against the Nets.
It is likely that Ball and Smith will be able to play against the Nets. The league office should give the okay to Nurkic, who was out due to his pending trade. The Hornets acquired Nurkic from Phoenix at the trade deadline for Cody Martin, but since it was the weekend, the league offices were closed.
Meanwhile, Green has missed the last two games and is considered a game-time decision for tomorrow. Okogie is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to be out for at least the remainder of the month.
What does the Lakers’ Voiding of Mark Williams Trade Mean For Hornets?
While Charlotte got their starting center back, what does Williams’ return mean for the Hornets in the future? Remember, the Hornets had to send rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht, veteran Cam Redish, and a 2031 first-round pick back to LA.
Yeah, there are well-established health concerns about Williams. But he is the best player in the trade and still very young. Williams is under team control for next season and is eligible for a rookie-scale extension. If the Hornets decide not to extend him prior to the season, he will be a restricted free agent in 2027.
Knecht is known for his shooting prowess. The 23-year-old wing was fantastic in November but has slightly cooled off. Granted, the Hornets need shooting as they are the sixth-worst 3-point shooting team despite launching the fifth-most triples.
Knecht is versatile, capable of playing either wing or power forward, and has shown scoring ability. He has scored at least 20 points five times, producing a career-high 37 points against Utah in mid-November. However, defense is an issue, and there is no guarantee that the Tennessee product will have a future in Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Redish was considered a buyout candidate for the Hornets. Even if the 25-year-old weren’t released, he would have been a free agent at the end of the season.
Hornets Sign Two Players Before Pistons Game
Charlotte currently has 16 players on standard contracts after converting Diabate’s two-way deal to a standard contract earlier today. According to Charania, Diabate’s deal is three years in length. ESPN’s Bobby Marks added that the Hornets are using part of their remaining room exception ($1.15 million) to sign the 23-year-old. The 6-11 center has played well for the Hornets this year, though the next two seasons of his contract are likely for the minimum and nonguaranteed.
Charlotte also signed veteran Elfrid Payton to a 10-day contract. Boone reported that the Hornets used the hardship waiver the NBA granted them to ink the 30-year-old point guard. Therefore, they weren’t required to make a corresponding move.
Payton, who had been out of the NBA since 2021, appeared in seven games for New Orleans before being released in early December. In 21 minutes of action, he averaged 6.7 points on 50% shooting, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists.
Charlotte was granted the hardship waiver due to having three players out for the remainder of the season due to injury—Brandon Miller, Tre Mann, and Grant Williams—as well as the other injuries they are dealing with. It is unlikely that Payton will remain with the team for any longer than the hardship waiver lasts.
With Mark Williams returning and Diabate signed for the future, the Hornets will have 11 players under contract for next season. The Hornets project to have at least $12 million in cap space as Diabate and DaQuan Jeffries’ deals are nonguaranteed.
Photo Courtesy of © Jim Dedmon of Imagn Image
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