The Charlotte Hornets have reportedly traded center Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
This trade came as a surprise, with no prior rumors suggesting the Hornets were looking to move Williams. The 7-foot center struggled in the Hornets’ recent game against Milwaukee, scoring only 6 points on 2-8 shooting and grabbing 5 rebounds in 25 minutes. Williams, who had been considered the Hornets’ center of the future, was having a career-high season, averaging 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The team had also traded Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns in January, signaling their commitment to Williams.
Recently, however, Williams had been a target of criticism from some fans, especially after a harsh analysis by Hornets analyst Terrence Oglesby during a game against the Wizards. After the trade, Williams took to social media to acknowledge his new team.
Now with the Lakers, Williams will have the opportunity to be the starting center alongside stars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James. He will also be eligible for a contract extension in the offseason.
The Return:
- Dalton Knecht: Knecht, in his rookie season, is averaging 9.4 points per game, shooting 46.5% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range. In his last outing, he scored 14 points on 6-9 shooting, including 2-4 from beyond the arc. As the 17th overall pick, Knecht is expected to contribute as an elite shooter next to LaMelo Ball, which will improve the Hornets’ spacing.
- Cam Reddish: Reddish is having the most challenging season of his six-year career, averaging just 3.3 points per game on 43% shooting and 28.9% from three. He has only played in 31 games this season and will be a free agent after the year. If he gets playing time, Reddish will be hoping to secure another contract in the offseason.
- 2031 First Round Pick: The most valuable asset in this trade is the Lakers’ 2031 unprotected first-round pick. However, its value may have decreased after the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic.
Moussa Diabate is now expected to be the Hornets’ center of the future. With the trade deadline approaching, the Hornets could be active, with players like Vasa Micic and Cody Martin potentially being moved.
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