It is officially the day of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, and the Charlotte Hornets are in business. A late-night (technically early morning) move was announced just after midnight on Thursday: the Hornets have officially traded Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, they will receive Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap.
All things considered, Charlotte got a very respectable return here for a player who, albeit extremely gifted physically, has had trouble staying healthy through two and a half seasons as a professional. Williams has played in just 84 games out of a possible 140 since the start of the 2023-24 season (Mark was mostly healthy his rookie year, where he spent a lot of time in the G League). He missed nearly a full calendar year for the Hornets between December 2023 and December 2024.
Standing 7-foot-2 and possessing the longest wingspan in the NBA (yes, longer than Wemby), Mark's physical profile has always been extremely impressive. But there had been some questions about his defensive ability, and those issues combined with his limited availability are likely what led Charlotte's front office to consider a pivot. It is also probable that trade talks accelerated once Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers and expressed his desire to play with a mobile big who is a lob threat.
The Hornets got a considerable return from the Lakers
Williams was once considered by many to be among the inner group of core players that the Hornets should be seeking to build around going forward. But now, with both he and Nick Richards gone, the center spot suddenly becomes very thin, and the overall equation changes in a big way for Charlotte. Fortunately, the big return they were able to get from the Lakers helps quite a bit.
Ironically enough, Dalton Knecht is the player many Hornets fans were hoping the organization would take last summer with the sixth overall pick in the draft. When the team took French prospect Tidjane Salaun instead, there was a considerable amount of regret from the fanbase, and Knecht's solid play to begin the season for LA only amplified those voices. Now, all that can be put to rest as one of the top rookies from the 2024-25 season arrives in Charlotte. Knecht's offensive ability will be a huge boost for a group that has struggled to produce on that side of the ball.
Cam Reddish brings gritty perimeter defense to the Hornets, and his arrival could also potentially be an indicator that one of Charlotte's current players of a similar archetype (Cody Martin, Josh Green) could still be on the trade market. The two draft picks from the Lakers are the cherry on top of this deal, even if the 2031 first-rounder is not likely to be of high value.
Overall, the feeling was that it was time for some changes in Charlotte. Between recurring injury troubles and other on-court problems, things were not meshing for the current group. With this deal, Jeff Peterson has stepped up to the plate and delivered in a big way. The Hornets can now move forward with some fresh faces and begin building toward putting a winning product on the court next season.