Lakers GM Rob Pelinka’s Misjudgment on Mark Williams’ Health
The Los Angeles Lakers believed they had secured their center of the future when they traded a significant package to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams. At 23 years old, Williams seemed like the ideal long-term fit alongside Luka Dončić as a pick-and-roll finisher and lob threat. However, that plan has now fallen apart.
On Saturday night, the trade was voided after the Hornets failed to meet a trade condition, sending Williams back to Charlotte and Dalton Knecht back to Los Angeles. The reason behind the reversal stemmed from Williams’ physical exam, in which the Lakers identified multiple concerns.
Williams’ history of injuries is well-documented, but Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka did not anticipate this outcome. Before the physical was finalized, Pelinka expressed strong confidence in the trade, as reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“We fully evaluated his health, with Dr. Kris Jones at UCLA Health and Dr. Leroy Sims on our staff, and he has never had any surgeries,” Pelinka stated, per McMenamin. “He’s still growing into his body. We reviewed his injury history and weren’t worried about it. We still have to conduct a physical and ensure that everything aligns with what we’ve seen in the medical records. … That’s a step we’ll complete before finalizing the trade.”
Lakers Face Major Dilemma After Voided Trade
Ultimately, Williams’ health was not in the clear, leading to the trade’s cancellation. Since the failed physical was discovered after the deadline, the teams had no chance to renegotiate the deal, leaving it completely off the table.
This development puts the Lakers in a tough position, as they must now address their glaring hole at center for the rest of the season. With Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko as the only available big men, the team is taking a significant risk if they hope to compete in the playoffs. The Lakers will aggressively explore the buyout market for reinforcements, though their options will be limited.
Bringing Knecht back is still a positive, as he provides a dependable perimeter shooter for LeBron James and Dončić to create offense. However, size was already a major concern for the Lakers before the trade—and now it’s an even bigger issue.