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Dave McMenamin
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers‘ trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was rescinded Saturday, according to the Lakers, after the 7-foot center failed L.A.’s physical exam, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues, and the team failed him, sources said. The physical was not failed due to his back, however.
Williams has struggled with injury issues to start his NBA career, including extended absences due to back and foot injuries. He has only played in 84 out of a possible 212 games through his first two and a half seasons with the Hornets (39.6%).
The Lakers agreed to trade rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and their 2031 first-round pick to the Hornets for the 23-year-old Williams on Wednesday night, and the deal became official on a trade call Thursday after L.A.’s 120-112 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Williams was listed as questionable for the Lakers’ 124-117 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. When asked before the game if Williams would play, Lakers coach JJ Redick said, “The trade is still pending so no answer there.”
The deal was supposed to give L.A. a vertical spacing big man to play alongside Luka Doncic, while also opening a roster spot for the Lakers to pursue another player on the buyout market.
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