The Los Angeles Lakers were incredibly active on the trade market this year. Obviously, their deal for Luka Doncic highlighted their activity, but they also made a big trade for big man Mark Williams. He was slated to be the starting center of the future in their post-Anthony Davis world.
Unfortunately, the trade was rescinded. It was reported that the Lakers failed Williams on his physical exam, giving them grounds to rescind the deal. As a result, Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and LA’s draft capital were sent back to them, and Williams went back to the Hornets. That was that.
But the trade saga isn’t over yet.
Hornets looking to challenge Lakers rescinding Mark Williams, Dalton Knecht trade
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Hornets have been in contact with the NBA in hopes of investigating the Lakers’ physical.
“The Charlotte Hornets have been in contact with the NBA as they explore options to dispute the Los Angeles Lakers' failed physical assessment of Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote in a tweet. “The Williams/Dalton Knecht trade was nixed Saturday, and now Hornets weigh avenues to challenge.”
The Charlotte Hornets have been in contact with the NBA as they explore options to dispute the Los Angeles Lakers' failed physical assessment of Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. The Williams/Dalton Knecht trade was nixed Saturday, and now Hornets weigh avenues to challenge.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 11, 2025
Clearly, the Hornets aren’t pleased that the trade was rescinded. They were happy with the deal and have some questions regarding the decisions the Lakers made on their end of things.
If Charlotte ends up challenging the ruling on the deal being rescinded, it’s unclear what the future of the trade could look like. Perhaps there’s a chance that the league forces it to go through, and all the players end up where they were originally intended to go.
But regardless, the whole situation is a bit of a mess, as all of the players involved are being thrown around like rag dolls at the moment.
First, Williams thought he was going to the Lakers, and Knecht thought he was going to the Hornets. Everything was fine.
Then, the trade was rescinded, and all of the players involved were forced back to the teams that just shipped them away. Knecht now knows that the Lakers felt okay trading him, but he has to suit up in the gold and purple, regardless.
But now, after all that, the Hornets are still trying to get the deal to go through. That means there’s a chance that, after everything, Williams could still end up in LA and Knecht in Charlotte.
One thing’s for sure: the entire situation has been made into a mess. And unfortunately for everyone involved, it’s not over yet.