Lakers trade for center Mark Williams, deal Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and draft picks
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Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager and frequent target of the team’s fan base for inaction on the trade market, sat in front of cameras and told everyone there was no way to wave a “magic wand” and make the right center appear.
For months the Lakers’ front office signaled there wasn’t a center available who fit their price range and roster needs, needs that got only more obvious once Pelinka dealt Anthony Davis and Max Christie for Luka Doncic.
And Tuesday, as he sat next to Doncic, Pelinka pledged to address that need, while asking for patience.
But Wednesday night with the NBA’s trade deadline a little more than a half a day away, a center did appear — and there was hardly any magic involved.
The Lakers acquired 23-year-old 7-footer Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, emptying what little was left in their asset arsenal to acquire a talented player with a history of injuries.
To get Williams, a former first-round pick, the Lakers sent rookie Dalton Knecht, a 2030 first-round pick swap and their 2031 unprotected first-round pick to the Hornets. The Lakers also included forward Cam Reddish to create a roster spot they could fill on the buyout market.
According to people familiar with the deal not authorized to speak publicly, the Lakers made the move after meeting with Doncic and speaking with him about the kind of center he prefers playing with: an athletic screener and lob threat. Then the Lakers got to work on Williams’ medical history, because he’s been limited to 84 games since he was the 15th pick in the 2022 draft.
Williams missed significant time with foot, ankle and back injuries, the latter keeping him out for most of last season. According to people familiar with the transaction, the Lakers are satisfied the back problems no longer are an issue and the other injuries have been more bad luck than anything else.
So, Pelinka, once criticized for not trading the Lakers’ future first-round picks, used the two available to him in a span of five days to add a perennial 25-year-old All-NBA player in Doncic and a 23-year-old center in Williams, giving the Lakers and 40-year-old LeBron James a credible shot at title contention.
Williams has blossomed on the offensive end since moving into the starting lineup on Dec. 13, averaging 17.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 59.7% from the field and 77.4% from the free-throw line.
The Lakers’ newest superstar showed up Tuesday admitting criticism from some in Dallas provides motivation. “I have everything left to prove,” he said.
Last Saturday against Denver and Nikola Jokic, Williams scored 20 points and had 15 rebounds, including six offensive.
After dealing Davis, the Lakers now have Williams, Jaxson Hayes and small-ball lineups with Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith to navigate a Western Conference that includes players like Jokic, Alperen Sengun and Jaren Jackson Jr.
To get Williams,the Lakers dealt their last available first-round pick — 2031. They have the 1-4 protection on the 2027 first-rounder they dealt to Utah, though their recent trades are designed to keep them out of the lottery and vault them into contention.
In Knecht, the Lakers send their first-round pick who just came through a horrific shooting slump to score in double figures in six of their last nine games. While holding great belief in Knecht’s offensive abilities, the defensive struggles were significant enough to limit his ability to potentially contribute this spring.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at noon, the Lakers left with minimal options for another deal. The last remaining draft pick they have to trade is their second-round pick this year.
The Lakers play the Golden State Warriors, who just dealt for Miami forward Jimmy Butler, on Thursday in Los Angeles.
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