It made headlines when the Los Angeles Lakers traded Dalton Knecht for the Charlotte Hornets’ Mark Williams, with many saying how great the move was for the Lakers. Yet, a few days after the news rocked the NBA world, the announcement of the trade being rescinded left many in shock.
While rescinded trades are typically rare in the NBA, Williams failing his physical was the cause of the deal falling through. With that news coming out, it could be understood if both of the players needed some time after having their lives rerouted twice in days. The trade market isn’t always kind to players who are hanging in the balance, and in this case, two players went through a whirlwind.
Mark Williams Still Hasn’t Returned to Charlotte Hornets
While Knecht’s return to LA was met with fanfare and a lot of attention, Williams’ absence prior to the All-Star break raised some eyebrows. Considering he failed his physical to complete the trade, it does call into question where his health might actually be.
In addition to the physical aspect of why this trade was rescinded, there is the unspoken concern of how the trade deadline could impact certain players mentally. While his state of mind is not something we can personally speak on, it seems as if Williams is not ready to take the floor just yet for the Hornets again.
Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer had this to say in regards to Williams.
Mark Williams has to return to the Charlotte Hornets, per @rodboone
“Unlike Knecht, who saw action Wednesday night against the Jazz in Utah after not playing on Monday despite being active for Luke Doncic’s Los Angeles debut, Williams remained away, undoubtedly to give the… pic.twitter.com/Xos4KhdIJV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 16, 2025
“Unlike Knecht, who saw action Wednesday night against the Jazz in Utah after not playing on Monday despite being active for Luke Doncic’s Los Angeles debut, Williams remained away, undoubtedly to give the 7-footer more time to mentally process the whirlwind. While the Hornets have been in contact with NBA, appealing to see whether anything can be done in regard to the deal, league sources confirmed to The Observer, they await Williams’ return.”
The Hornets have been in contact with the NBA to appeal the rescinded trade, but I don’t imagine that anything will change here. When it was revealed that Williams had several issues that scared the Lakers off, the writing should have been on the wall.
What Happens Next for Williams and the Hornets?
The Lakers signed center Alex Len to compensate for losing out on Williams, which at least allows them to have a bigger body out there on the floor. While Len lacks the physical gifts of Williams and raw talent, he does have the size that the Lakers could use on the floor.
For Williams, the question is, what’s next? Will he return to the Hornets focused and ready to play? Will this be a problem for him as the season closes out?
Williams went from having a dream role in Los Angeles alongside LeBron James and Luka Dončić to being back in Charlotte in just a few days. That has to be deflating in some ways.
If Williams remains healthy and manages to get his body right, maybe this is a path for the Lakers to explore again in the future. As the Hornets await his return to the team, one can only hope that when Williams does, that he continues his level of play.
