According to multiple reports, the trade deadline deal between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers, headlined by Mark Williams and Dalton Knecht, has been rescinded. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin is reporting “the Lakers say the trade was rescinded because of the Hornets’ failure to satisfy a condition of the trade.”
The Lakers say the trade was rescinded because of the Hornets’ failure to satisfy a condition of the trade. https://t.co/EZkaKfUTgF
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 9, 2025
Earlier this week, Charlotte and Los Angeles initially agreed to a deal sending Williams to the Lakers and Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap to the Hornets. That’s now axed.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports “Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam.”
Mark Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam, sources tell ESPN. The physical was not failed due to his back, however. https://t.co/lY4XrSIlHf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025
Lakers Thin At Center
The rescinding of this trade leaves Los Angeles quite shallow at center. Anthony Davis, is of course, a member of the Dallas Mavericks these days. With the trade still pending, Jaxson Hayes started at center for the Lakers on Saturday afternoon against the Indiana Pacers. He was backed up by Trey Jemison, who played 12 minutes, notching eight points, one assist and one rebound.
Los Angeles can also go small with LeBron James, Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura or Jarred Vanderbilt manning minutes at the five, if it so chooses. All of them have at least some experience playing small-ball center, particularly James, Finney-Smith and Vanderbilt.
It could elect to add an external reinforcements with someone like Daniel Theis, who was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder this week and subsequently waived. Theis has struggled this season and his best days could be past him at 32 years old, but owns a history of providing quality rotation minutes at center.
While this is certainly not an ideal outcome for the Lakers, they do gain some depth on the perimeter with Knecht and Reddish back in the fold. Although, the whole ordeal may make for an awkward reintegration period.
They also get to keep their 2031 first-round pick and the ability to offer swap rights on their 2030 first-round pick in any move. That flexibility doesn’t help them this season, but should be valuable tools during the summer and next trade deadline as they build a new-look roster around James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers are 31-19, tied for third in the West and have won nine of their past 10 games. They return to the floor Monday against the Utah Jazz. Doncic is widely expected to make his Lakers debut that night.
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