Los Angeles Lakers’ Biggest Mistake at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline
The Los Angeles Lakers’ moves at the NBA trade deadline didn’t spark much criticism. In fact, they were seen as one of the biggest winners. They addressed future concerns by acquiring Luka Doncic and then bolstered the move by trading for 23-year-old athletic center Mark Williams.
However, while the acquisition of Williams was driven by Anthony Davis’ departure and Luka’s desire for a lob threat, this could be the Lakers’ biggest risk at the deadline. Despite fan excitement over the 7-foot center, it could prove to be their biggest mistake, as they may have given up too much in the deal.
Mark Williams’ Injury-Riddled Past
One of the major concerns about acquiring Williams is his history of injuries. After three seasons in the NBA, Williams has only played in 85 games, which is far from ideal. Throughout his career, he has struggled with ankle injuries, a lower back contusion, and other setbacks. While it’s common for big men to be prone to injuries, the Lakers should be wary, as Williams’ availability is uncertain, which is a real issue.
The Lakers’ struggles without Davis due to injury are still fresh in memory. Replacing one injury-prone center with another doesn’t solve their need for a reliable big man. This gap could be especially noticeable when they face off against the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic.
Williams has already missed a significant number of games this season, sitting out 25 contests for the Charlotte Hornets before the trade. Given his injury history, the Lakers’ coaching and training staff will need to closely monitor his health, which will likely require strict load management to keep him available for crucial games.
In the meantime, backup big men like Jaxon Hayes, Maxi Kleber, Christian Koloko, and Trey Jemison III will have to step up. Hayes has been solid recently, but he may not be reliable enough to handle the league’s best centers. Koloko and Jemison are still trying to prove they deserve more minutes. Kleber, acquired in the Luka-AD trade, offers great size and floor spacing, but his persistent injuries, including a broken foot, add to the Lakers’ frontcourt issues. With Christian Wood also missing, the Lakers need Williams to stay healthy for this trade to pay off.
The Defensive Void of Anthony Davis
Even before the 2024-25 season began, the Lakers were searching for a big man. This was in response to Davis’ request to move to the four, allowing him to be more effective. However, with Davis’ departure, the Lakers now face a significant void in the center position. While Williams fills that gap, his impact seems stronger offensively than defensively.
Standing at 7 feet tall with a 9-foot-9 standing reach, the longest in the NBA, Williams should be a dominant presence in the paint for the Lakers. Offensively, he can serve as a lob threat and excel in pick-and-roll situations. He’s posting career-high numbers with 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. However, his defense remains a concern.
Williams has struggled to guard stronger, more athletic big men. For example, in a matchup against former Laker Davis, he gave up 42 points and 23 rebounds. Similarly, he was unable to stop Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls, who scored 40 points.
Williams is averaging a career-best 1.2 blocks per game this season. Although he can occasionally block shots, he needs to improve in defending against physically imposing centers. The silver lining is his youth—at 23, he still has room to grow, provided he avoids further injuries.
Lakers Lose Flexibility
Another downside of the Williams trade is the amount of assets the Lakers gave up. Compared to the Luka-AD deal, the