3 Winners, 3 Losers in Mark Williams’ Return to Hornets
The 2025 trade deadline has been so eventful that its impact lingers even after a few days. Unfortunately, the Charlotte Hornets may not be thrilled with the outcome, as their deal with the Los Angeles Lakers was canceled due to Mark Williams failing his physical.
As a result, Williams will return to Charlotte, while the Hornets will have to give the Lakers back the assets they were about to benefit from—Dalton Knecht and a 2031 unprotected first-round pick.
It has become a back-and-forth situation, with the Hornets even subtly criticizing Los Angeles by referring to it as “the other team” in their statement. They also claimed that the Lakers had “aggressively pursued” Williams.
Meanwhile, Rob Pelinka will need to explain why he disclosed on Friday that the Lakers had “vetted” Williams’ injuries and were “not concerned” about his health.
What’s puzzling is that the Lakers apparently discovered a major issue with Williams’ foot, which came as a surprise. While his extensive injury history has involved multiple foot problems in recent years, his back had been seen as the bigger concern.
The cancellation of the trade has created several winners and losers.
Winner: Nick Smith Jr. Had Knecht joined Charlotte, the Hornets would have gained a potential sharpshooter. However, Nick Smith Jr.’s role could have been threatened, as he has been on a scoring spree lately, averaging 21.3 points and 3.8 three-pointers per game on 58.9% shooting in his last four games.
Smith Jr.’s position would have been uncertain next season, especially with Brandon Miller and (likely) Tre Mann returning from injuries. With Knecht no longer in the picture, the second-year guard now faces less competition for playing time.
Loser: Mark Williams Williams might be perplexed by the turn of events in his career. He seemed excited about joining Los Angeles, posting purple and gold hearts on X (formerly Twitter) immediately after the trade was announced.
The silver lining for Williams is that he will return to his role with Charlotte, though it could be awkward to go back to the team that nearly traded him. The turn of events may also damage the 23-year-old’s value, as concerns about his long-term health continue to grow.
Winner: Dalton Knecht Like Williams, Knecht might feel uncomfortable re-entering the Lakers’ locker room. However, the open shots he’ll get playing alongside stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic will likely make up for the awkwardness.
Additionally, despite being a rookie, Knecht will turn 24 in April, so he may prefer to be part of a contender rather than a rebuilding team.
Loser: Moussa Diabate Moussa Diabate quickly demonstrated that Charlotte’s center position would have been in good hands. In the Hornets’ first game after the deadline, the French youngster posted nine points, 15 rebounds, and six assists while winning his matchup against rising star and fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama.
He was likely on track to have his two-way contract converted to a full deal. However, with Williams returning and Jusuf Nurkic potentially joining the Hornets (unless their trade with the Phoenix Suns is also canceled), Diabate may struggle to earn the playing time he deserves.
Winner: Other Western Contenders The Lakers’ title odds spiked significantly after their trade deadline moves. But now, with the canceled deal and no other moves to fill the void at center, Los Angeles lacks depth in the frontcourt.
Perhaps the Lakers are eyeing a buyout candidate, which is why they were fine with letting go of Williams. Still, it’s hard to see a better alternative that could help the Lakers surpass their Western Conference competition.
Loser: Hornets’ Future One of the main reasons Charlotte seems frustrated by the Lakers’ decision is that it now loses the 2031 first-round pick and the 2030 pick swap—assets that would have been valuable for the Hornets as they continue their rebuild. This means one less piece in their stockpile of draft assets.
Furthermore, Hornets executive Jeff Peterson’s reputation may take a hit. If it turns out that he knew about Williams’ injury and took advantage of the Lakers’ desperation to acquire a center, it will be difficult for Peterson to recover his standing.