The Los Angeles Lakers made a move for a much-coveted center Wednesday night, agreeing to a deal for Mark Williams of the Charlotte Hornets, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Lakers are sending Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Hornets to complete the deal, sources said.
The Luka Doncic–Anthony Davis blockbuster over the weekend left the Lakers with a big hole in their lineup, one that vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said Monday he was working to fill via the trade market.
He did so with Williams, a 7-footer out of Duke who is averaging a career-best 15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his third NBA season. Williams gives the Lakers a starting center who fits the profile of athleticism and verticality that has flourished with Doncic.
Jaxson Hayes started the past three games at center for the Lakers but has struggled against burlier centers and with staying out of foul trouble in his two seasons with the team. After Hayes, there was a major drop-off in dependability at the position for L.A. Backup Christian Wood has been out all season with a knee injury and his potential return date is unknown. Christian Koloko, Trey Jemison III and Armel Traore have played only spot minutes this season.
Williams is averaging 22.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per 36 minutes this season. The only other players to average at least 22 points and 13 rebounds per 36 minutes in the league this season are Domantas Sabonis and Karl-Anthony Towns.
His one issue: durability. He’s played 85 out of a possible 212 games in his career (40%).
The deal comes at a cost for the Lakers, who part ways with Knecht, the sharp-shooting No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA draft out of Tennessee. He ranks fifth in total points and second in total 3-pointers among rookies this season and has a pair of 25-point games, tied for second.
The Hornets, meanwhile, continue to built an arsenal of draft capital, including: their own first-rounders in the next seven drafts; a top-14 protected first from Miami (2027, unprotected in 2028); a top-2 protected first from Dallas (2027); right to swap firsts with the Lakers (2030); an unprotected first from Lakers (2031).
Information from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin was used in this report.
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