You've probably looked at the calendar the past couple of days, double-checking that it's not NBA trade deadline day. It certainly has felt that way with the flurry of trades that have happened. Why has it been so chaotic? Part of the reasoning is because of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fred Katz of The Athletic tweeted that he spoke with someone who gave their input on why the days leading up to the deadline have been busier than usual.
Something suggested to me by a front office person: One reason why we might be seeing lots of Tuesday/Wednesday trades this year is because three guys having issues with their physicals at the trade deadline last year freaked everyone out — especially the Mark Williams deal,…
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) February 4, 2026
Teams don't want to trade for a player like Mark Williams (Cody and Caleb Martin are the other two players), as the Lakers did last year, only for him to fail the physical. By the time that happened, it was too late for Los Angeles to try to make another move for a center. Williams headed back to Charlotte in a state of confusion, and Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2031 first-round pick returned to LA.
The Hornets traded Williams over the offseason, sending him to the Suns. Phoenix took a cautious approach to the center during the summer, emphasizing strength and conditioning. He didn't play at all in the preseason, but he has played in 46 regular-season games, the most he's played since Charlotte drafted him in 2022. It's only February, too.
The Suns should thank the Lakers for not only rescinding the trade, allowing them to get Williams a few months later, but LA probably also has something to do with Phoenix taking the offseason approach it did with him.
The NBA hasn't forgotten the Lakers' rescinded trade for Mark Williams
Williams wasn't injured at the time of the trade, but some players have been traded this year who are currently out with injuries. The top player that comes to mind is Anthony Davis, whom the Wizards acquired in a deal with the Mavericks on Wednesday, over 24 hours before the deadline.
If, for any reason, something troubling comes up in his physical, Washington will have time to adjust the deal if needed, rather than if the trade was announced right before Thursday's 12 p.m. PT deadline. That added flexibility is nice to have. Just ask the Mavericks, who amended their Caleb Martin trade last year with the Sixers because of his physical.
Not only can it create a mess for the front office, but it can also affect the player(s) involved. The NBA is a business, so front offices aren't focused on that aspect, but it can help prevent unnecessary travel and stress for players. It can also eliminate the awkwardness of returning to your former team, knowing they "traded" you.
Maybe if LA had made the Williams trade sooner, it could've renegotiated it with Charlotte instead of rescinding it. That is exactly what teams are trying to prevent this year.