Lakers-Hornets Deal Mixed; Williams fails physically, says sources

Los Angeles-Lakers’ trade in Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was lifted on Saturday, according to Lakers, after the 7-Foot Center failed LAS physical exam, sources told ESPNS Sham’s Charania.

Williams’ physical with Lakers showed several questions and the team failed him on the exam, the sources say. However, the physical did not fail because of the back.

Williams has only played 85 out of possible 212 games throughout its first two and a half season with Hornets (40.1%). Los Angeles was confident in his medical, sources of ESPN told at the time the trade was agreed.

Laker’s Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Rob Pelinka, discussed the trade on Thursday night with confidence in the acquisition while acknowledging that a physically should happen.

“We have fully monitored his health things, led by Dr. Kris Jones at UCLA Health and Dr. Leroy Sims on our team and he has not had any operations,” Pelinka said. “So this is just parts of, he is still growing into the body. We wet the injuries he has had and we are not worried about them. We want a chance to have a physical and continue to make a deep dive And make sure what we have talked about and seen in the (electronic medical items).

Lakers Rookie Dalton Knecht along with Cam Reddish, ET 2030 Pick-SWAP and LAS 2031 First round election was the return to Charlotte. The trade was agreed on Wednesday evening and became official on a trade call to the league office on Thursday after Las victory of 120-112 over the Golden State Warriors.

As the deadline has passed, the trade was not allowed to be changed to account for regardless of new medical information that Lakers may have discovered in their evaluation of Williams.

Williams was listed as questionable for Lakers’ 124-117 victory over Indiana Pacers on Saturday. When asked before the game if Williams would play, Laker’s coach JJ Redick said: “The deal is still pending, so no answer there.”

The deal should give La a vertical distance big man to play with Luka Doncic, while also opening a list of lakers to pursue another player in the Buyout market.