The Los Angeles Lakers have cancelled their trade for Charlotte center Mark Williams due to concerns over his injury history. The team agreed to send rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and draft considerations in exchange for the 23-year-old Williams last week.
However, after learning more about Williams’ past injuries, including back problems that have limited him to just 84 of a possible 212 NBA games over three seasons, the Lakers decided to pull out of the deal. The cancellation is the latest development in the team’s tumultuous roster moves this season.
The Lakers had initially no concerns about the trade and were excited to welcome Williams, who is a former first-round draft pick and has played for Duke under coach JJ Redick. But with Williams’ injury history now known, the team decided it was not worth pursuing the deal.
This move throws more uncertainty into the Lakers’ lineup, which already faces significant challenges without a proven big man to play alongside Jaxson Hayes. The team’s backup center, Trey Jemison III, is on a two-way contract and doesn’t qualify for the playoffs, while Christian Wood has missed the entire season due to knee surgery.
The cancellation also creates roster space issues, as the Lakers had created a spot by dealing two players for Williams. But the team may be able to get help from within, particularly with rookie Knecht showing promise despite defensive growing pains that limited his playing time this season.
Source: https://www.nba.com/news/lakers-hornets-trade-rescinded