Lakers trade Dalton Knecht, first round pick to Hornets for Mark Williams
The Lakers have made a big move to fill their hole at center, trading Dalton Knecht and a first round pick for Mark Williams of the Hornets.
The Lakers have made one last big splash ahead of the trade deadline by filling their hole at center, though at a big price.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, their 2031 first round pick and a pick swap in 2030 to the Hornets for center 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
After vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said the team likely wouldn’t make a big splash, they effectively traded the last of their assets in this deal.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Luka Dončić made it clear to the Lakers he wanted a lob threat of a big man, which Williams certainly is.
After huddling with Luka Doncic after the trade, he impressed upon Lakers’ brass his desire to play with a lob threat, mobile big whose vertical spacing gives Doncic another option when making his reads, sources told ESPN.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 6, 2025
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, it was actually the Hornets who called the Lakers about Knecht to start the discussions.
Lakers had been looking for a big but once they got Luka this week, they knew exactly what kind of big they wanted. From what I’ve heard, in Luka’s initial basketball conversations he told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka he played best when he had a vertical lob threat. When Charlotte…
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 6, 2025
There’s also a dynamic between Redick and Williams, as well, dating back to the latter’s season at Duke where Redick served as a mentor to the big man before taking the Lakers head coach.
Mark Williams, 23, can progress on Luka Doncic’s timeline and has ties to Lakers coach JJ Redick, who had a mentor/mentee dynamic with him when he was at Duke University, sources told ESPN.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 6, 2025
This season, Williams is averaging 16 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 59.7% from the field. He’s also blocking 1.2 shots per game.
At 23 years old, Williams is actually younger than Knecht, who they parted with in this deal. He will make $4.1 million this season, $6.2 million next season and then will be a restricted free agent in 2026.
Injuries have been an issue for Williams. He played in just 43 games his rookie season and 19 games in his second season. This year, he’s played in 22 contests.
Much of that time missed over the last two seasons came from one extended absence. After suffering an injury in early December of 2023, Williams did not play again until December of 2024.
He initially missed the 2023-24 season due to a back injury. During training camp at the start of this season, he broke a bone in his foot, preventing him from playing in the opening months of the year.
Neither of those injuries required surgery, which appears to be something the Lakers are optimistic about moving forward.
Mark Williams has missed some time in his early career from a small fracture in his left foot, sources said, however LAL is confident in his medicals. Williams’ injury never required surgery, sources told ESPN.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 6, 2025
Lakers, per sources, confident that Mark Williams' back issues from a year ago are healed and that they're getting one of the game's top young centers who fit the Doncic archetype
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 6, 2025
Since debuting Dec. 3, he’s missed only five games. He’s also had some big games of late, including a 38-point outing against Memphis. He had double-doubles in each of his final two games with Charlotte, tallying 20 points and 15 rebounds against Denver and 23 points and 14 rebounds against Washington.
This trade also opens up a roster spot for the Lakers to use on a buyout target. The team is completely devoid of assets in terms of draft picks. They also just traded their best young player on the roster, too.
However, it does leave the team quite well-rounded. They’ve addressed their glaring need at center with a young center that matches Luka’s timeline. There is no longer a clear need on the roster, meaning they can be flexible with signing a player on the buyout market.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.