Lakers Trade for Hornets’ Mark Williams abolished after failed physical

Lakers’ Trade for Center Mark Williams has been “abolished” due to a “failure to fulfill a condition of trade,” Lakers announced on Saturday night.

Williams failed his physical with the team and canceled the trade, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak in public.

Lakers had entered into an agreement to send Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and Lakers’ 2031 first round of elections to Charlotte for Williams, but the players are now returning to their original team because the trade deadline has passed.

The trade leaves Lakers with Jaxson Hayes as the lonely center on its list and robs the team of the future 7-foot partner, hoping to pair with the newly acquired Luka Doncic. Lakers have Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III on two -way agreements, but two -way players are not eligible for the autumn period. With Knecht and Redish on the way back, Lakers’ program list is full of 15 players.

None of the people involved in the deal had debuted for their new team.

Williams has missed significant time due to ankle, back and knee problems since he was prepared by Hornets in 2022, playing only 85 games in two-plus seasons. Questions about his long -term health were raised around the NBA after Lakers beat the surprise agreement, according to people with knowledge of the situation that is not authorized to speak in public. Lakers beat the deal, which also included a 2030 draft pick swap, in a bit of surprise, with most people in the league assuming that Charlotte wasn’t trading Williams.

Laker’s General Manager Rob Pelinka said earlier this week that the team was not worried about Williams’ previous injuries, but said Lakers would “make a deep dive” on him under his physical.

“So we monitored his health things to the fullest,” Pelinka said on Thursday. “… he has not had any operations. So these are just parts of, he still grows into the body. We vetted the injuries he has had and we are not worried about them. We will have a chance to have a physical and continue to make a deep dive and make sure that what we have talked about and seen in EMRS; We are sure. So we still have that step in the process of performing a full physically before trade becomes official. “

Williams had a closet inside Laker’s closet Saturday, but it was empty. He was listed as “questionable” because of the pending trade.

He had missed only five games since his debut on December 3rd.

Hayes has started the last five games for Lakers and is an average of 8.0 points and 6.6 rebounds.