The search is officially over. After an offseason of inactivity, months of indecision about how to complement Anthony Davis, and a blockbuster trade that sent Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers have finally addressed the void at center.
The cost is undeniably difficult to stomach, but the Lakers appear to have found the new franchise center less than 24 hours before the trade deadline.
Los Angeles entered Thursday, Feb. 6 with a captivating three-player core of Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Flanked by a compelling cast of wings, but devoid of reliable options down low, the Lakers faced unavoidable questions about their ability to truly contend.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers have addressed that flaw by trading for one of the best young centers in the NBA: Former Charlotte Hornets big man Mark Williams.
Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Unfortunately, it cost the Lakers their best young player in Dalton Knecht.
Lakers acquire Mark Williams from Hornets, but lose Dalton Knecht
Losing Knecht is tough to stomach, as the sharpshooting rookie has looked the part of a future star at multiple stages of the 2024-25 season. An explosive scoring threat with limitless range and impressive size and athleticism, the 23-year-old scored as many as 37 points in a single game.
Unfortunately, parting with Knecht, a 2031 first-round draft pick, a 2030 pick swap, and Cam Reddish was the necessary evil to find the center of the future.
Williams, 22, is currently averaging 16.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 offensive boards, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 25.0 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 23.0 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.8 offensive boards, 3.6 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.0 steal per 36 minutes.
The numbers are an accurate illustration of the All-Star potential that Williams has displayed during his first three NBA seasons.
Williams has taken his game to another level since Dec. 30. The rising star has posted borderline elite averages of 19.4 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.2 offensive boards, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game.
The Lakers are hoping that Williams' production will carry into Los Angeles, where he'll be operating alongside three high-level playmakers in Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
A 7'0" and 240-pound interior force with a colossal 7'6.5" wingspan, Williams has all of the tools to be a dominant force on both ends of the floor. Lakers head coach JJ Redick will now be tasked with his most significant player development task to date: Helping the 22-year-old live up to his potential.
In a matter of days, the Lakers have retooled and reloaded in a way that has them closer to a championship than most believed they could be in 2024-25.