Reports: Lakers adds Center Mark Williams from Hornets to Dalton Knecht, Picks

Third -year center Mark Williams was an average of 16 points and 9.8 rebounds in 22 games with Hornets this season.

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Days after the anesthetic of the NBA with their acquisition of Luka Dončić, Lakers was at it again Wednesday and sent Rookie-Guard Dalton Knecht, Veteran Tiser Cam Reddish, an unprotected 2031 first round pick and a 2030 pick swap to Hornet Center Mark Williams , Espns Shams Charania reported.

Right in: Los Angeles Lakers trades Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a non-protected first round in the first round and a 2030 pick swap for Charlotte Hornets to Center Mark Williams, sources of ESPN tell. pic.twitter.com/qguwetsssgd

– Shams Charania (@shamscharania) February 6, 2025

Lakers Recipient:

Hornets Recipient:

Lakers had already been thin in front, even before sending all-NBA tip Anthony Davis to Dallas as part of their package for Dončić. But Williams’ addition at least offset some of that scarcity, giving Lakers a promising young 7-foot that only turned 23 in December.

Last November, Williams was an average of 16 points and 9.8 rebounds with 60 dunks over his last 22 appearances with Hornets, which took him 15. Collected out of the IMG Academy in 2022.

Charlotte in the meantime continues to gather draft capital and assets when its reconstruction carries on. According to ESPNS Bobby Marks, Hornets holds all their own choices in the first round in the next seven years as well as further from Miami (2027 or ’28), Dallas (2027) and now Lakers (2031).

Hornets have built in nicely their first round elections in the coming years

*⃣Own first in the next 7 years
*⃣Top-14 protected first from Miami (2027, unprotected in 2028)
*⃣Top-2 protected first from Dallas (2027)
*⃣Right to swap first with La Lakers (2030)
*⃣ Underheld first from …

– Bobby Marks (@Bobbymarks42) February 6, 2025

They also add a solid rookie in Knecht, which average 9.4 points, while shooting 35.8% on 3-Pointers in 48 games with Lakers.