In a matter of months, Charlotte Hornets fans will find out what the organization intends to do with Mark Williams. Rumors have already been spreading that the front office is planning to put him back on the trading block, and that's despite the big man putting up a string of outstanding showings on both ends of the floor in the past few weeks.
It also appears that the relationship between him and his almost-ex-team is as strong as ever. Charles Lee, LaMelo Ball, and Miles Bridges, among others, have offered high praises for Williams, implying that the Duke University product has been the engine that runs the Hornets' ship.
A contrasting school of thought, though, is that he has just continued to boost his value and could land Charlotte an even better package than it received at the trade deadline, especially if he can show that his injury history is a thing of the past.
Hornets could target another Blue Devil this summer
If the Hornets decide that the best route is to forge a future without Williams, they could find it challenging to look for a replacement who could offer similar production but is of the same age or younger.
Some might say that Moussa Diabate will soon be ready to take over in the starting lineup. But while the 23-year-old Frenchman is seemingly the better rebounder and has been more consistent in providing hustle and energy than Williams, the current starting center is much more polished offensively and arguably raises the team's ceiling more.
Perhaps the draft can give Charlotte an avenue to seek a possible successor for Williams, and it doesn't have to look too far.
Duke standout Khaman Maluach has been generating a ton of buzz in recent months because of his fine play. He has even drawn some comparisons to former Blue Devil Williams because of his physique (7-2 height and 7-6 wingspan), athleticism, penchant for running to the rim, particularly off pick-and-rolls, and potential to be a disruptive force on defense. The South Sudan native might also have a tool in his arsenal that Mark doesn't — an outside shooting touch.
Still, Maluach appears to be a raw player compared to the top prospects of his draft class, and Charlotte might want to avoid bringing in another project after selecting Tidjane Salaun last year.
The Hornets are probably hoping to land a top pick in the lottery to get a chance to draft any of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or Ace Bailey. However, if they fall outside the top three, they should work Maluach out, especially if Williams isn't a part of their long-term plans.