How the Lakers Secured Mark Williams in a Trade No One Expected
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to shake up the league at the trade deadline, making another surprising move on Wednesday by acquiring 23-year-old center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets.
In return, the Lakers sent a 2031 first-round pick, a 2030 pick swap, Cam Reddish, and rookie Dalton Knecht to Charlotte—an unexpected deal that took many by surprise, similar to the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Dončić to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis.
The need for a center had been evident since the Davis trade, with players like Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner being linked to the Lakers in rumors. However, Williams was never mentioned as a target, making the deal even more unexpected.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, known for his stealthy moves, orchestrated another covert acquisition. After pulling off one of the most significant trades in NBA history by landing Dončić, Pelinka quickly addressed the team’s most glaring need. Much like the Dončić trade, this one was completed in a hurry.
Pelinka revealed to reporters before Thursday’s game against the Golden State Warriors that Charlotte initiated the talks, reaching out to the Lakers about their center vacancy. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the entire negotiation process took less than 48 hours.
“In a brief pregame press conference, Lakers VP of basketball operations and GM Rob Pelinka shared that Charlotte contacted LA about their center need. The Mark Williams trade was finalized between the two teams in under two days,” Buha wrote.
Initially, Williams wasn’t on the trade market, but once he became available, the Lakers acted quickly to secure him.
Pelinka’s secretive style is a consistent theme, often catching the league off guard. The Dončić-Davis trade was initiated by the Mavericks just days before it went through. Similarly, the Williams trade wasn’t pre-planned—it was a rare opportunity, and Pelinka jumped on it.
Now, Williams joins a Lakers team that has been rapidly reshaping its roster, pairing Dončić with LeBron James and filling the significant gap in the frontcourt. While it remains to be seen if Williams will be the long-term solution at center, one thing is clear: Pelinka is acting fast. The Lakers are in win-now mode, and their movesaren’t over yet.