The fallout and bad feelings from the rescinded trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets involving center Mark Williams continued Thursday when Williams’ agent formally alleged the Lakers did not properly handle the physical examination that derailed the deal.
‘The overwhelming sentiment, after conferring with multiple, nationally recognized doctors, is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical,’ Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management said in a statement released by ESPN’s Shams Charania. ‘Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been given that opportunity.’
This defense of Williams comes on the heels of the Hornets’ 100-97 win over the Lakers Wednesday night, when Williams had 10 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes in his first game back with Charlotte since the trade fell through after the NBA trade deadline last week. The deal, which was initially reported on Feb. 6 only to be rescinded by the Lakers two days later, would have sent Williams to the Lakers in exchange for rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
Williams said he was stunned at the trade’s reversal and expressed doubt after Wednesday’s game that his failed physical was the only reason behind the deal’s demise. He also speculated buyer’s remorse by the Lakers could have played a role.
‘I didn’t think there was any world I could fail my physical,’ Williams told reporters. ‘Every time I’ve been out, it’s been documented, so I don’t know for them, if it was what they gave up or what went into that reasoning, but I don’t think it was solely because of my physical. Like I said, I’ve been playing all year and my minutes and production on the court speaks for itself.’
ESPN reported the Hornets were also exploring options to challenge the Lakers’ medical evaluation, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver said during the All-Star break no appeal had been filed at that time. Silver did, however, note that the details surrounding this Lakers-Hornets trade could prompt the NBA to update its standards surrounding the requirements on a physical to complete a trade.
Mark Williams trade details
Hornets get: Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, 2031 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick swap
Lakers get: Mark Williams
Mark Williams injury history
Williams, 23, has appeared in just 85 games over his first three NBA seasons. He played a career-best 43 games as a rookie, but even that 2022-23 campaign was derailed by ankle and thumb injuries. A back injury forced Williams to miss most of the 2023-24 season after he started 19 of the Hornets’ first 20 games. Williams has played in 24 of Charlotte’s 53 games this year.
Mark Williams stats
Williams is in the midst of the best season of his NBA career. The Duke product and No. 15 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft is averaging nearly a double-double and career highs in points, assists and blocks. Here’s what his stats for the 2024-25 NBA season look like thus far:
24 games played
15.3 points per game
9.6 rebounds per game
2.5 assists per game
1.1 blocks per game
58.1% from the field