Sources – Lakers Handle Knecht, Reddish, Choosing for Hornets Williams

Los Angeles Lakers made a step to a highly sought after center on Wednesday night and accepted a deal for Mark Williams from Charlotte Hornets, sources of ESPN’s Shams Charania told.

Lakers sends Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a non-protected first round in the first round and a 2030 pick swap to Hornets to end the deal, sources say.

Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Blockbuster this weekend left Lakers with a big hole in their lineup, one, as Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka said on Monday he was working to fill through the trading market.

He did it with Williams, a 7-foot out of Duke, which is on average a career-best 15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his third NBA season. Williams gives Lakers a starting center that fits the profile of athletics and verticalness that has bloomed with Doncic.

However, it came at a price as the team parts are with Knecht, the sharp shooting no. 17 elections in 2024 NBA draft from Tennessee. He ranks fifth on total points and seconds a total of 3-pointers among rookies this season and has a couple of 25-point games, tied to the other.

Hornets meanwhile continues to build an arsenal of draft capital, including: their own first round in the next seven drafts; a Top-14 protected first from Miami (2027, unprotected in 2028); a top-2 protected first from Dallas (2027); Right to exchange first with Lakers (2030); An unprotected first from Lakers (2031).