Nearly two weeks after the Los Angeles Lakers rescinded their trade for center Mark Williams with the Charlotte Hornets, the decision has sparked controversy. According to sources reported by ESPN, the Lakers’ decision stemmed from Williams failing his physical examination with the team. This week, Williams’ agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, issued a statement challenging the Lakers’ choice. "The overwhelming sentiment, after conferring with multiple, nationally recognized doctors, is ... Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been ..." Schwartz stated.
The rescinded trade would have sent Lakers rookie forward Dalton Knecht, along with future draft picks, to the Hornets. Williams returned to the court against the Lakers on Wednesday, posting 10 points, nine rebounds, and two assists during the Hornets’ 100-97 victory. This marked Williams’ first game action since the trade negotiations. Williams had previously been sidelined due to injuries, including lower back pain and foot tendons issues, but had recently shown significant improvement on the court.
Speaking about the rescinded trade after the game, Williams expressed his doubts about the sole reason behind the Lakers' decision, confidently asserting, "I don't think it was solely because of my physical. I felt like I could have contributed to them. But, obviously, they had second thoughts." Williams, who is having his best season yet, averaged 15.3 points per game on 58.1% shooting, showcasing his value on the floor.
Lakers star LeBron James commented on encountering Williams so soon after the failed trade. "He was never a teammate. He never stepped ... We know the trade went down, but we never seen him," James pointed out, seemingly dismissing the significance of the rescinded deal on his team’s dynamics.
Post-rescission, the Lakers had to realign their roster strategy. After waiving center Christian Wood, who was sidelined due to knee surgery, the Lakers signed Alex Len to help reinforce their frontcourt depth. Len has averaged 2.0 points and 4.0 rebounds through his two games with L.A.
Reflecting on the trade discussions, Williams described the past weeks as "crazy" and "tough," and found it quite ironic to play against the Lakers right after the drama unfolded. Hornets coach Charles Lee acknowledged the private discussions within the team, stating, "... we definitely had some conversations ..." about the trade and Williams’ transition back to the squad.
Despite the trade controversy, Williams seems to have seamlessly re-integrated back with his teammates. Williams himself emphasized this aspect, noting, "So them welcoming me back – staff, players – it was pretty seamless ..." His determination to prove his fitness and capability is evident as he battles to establish himself as integral to the Hornets' season.
For his part, Williams reportedly didn’t seek detailed feedback on the physical examination results from the Lakers. "I didn’t really want to hear anything, to be honest with you. I didn’t think there was any world where I could fail my physical. Every time I’ve been out, it’s been documented," he remarked, reflecting his confidence in his health status.
With the Hornets currently at 14-39, Williams and the team are focused on improving their performance moving forward, especially after the recent victory against the Lakers. Williams has made a strong statement with his return to the court, demonstrating resilience and readiness to contribute to his team.