Many GMs would have rested on their laurels after completing the biggest trade in NBA history to land Luka Doncic. But not Rob Pelinka, who went and made yet another big move, making a trade for young Hornets center Mark Williams in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and a 2031 first-round pick.
Williams just recently returned from an injury that cost him almost his entire sophomore year. And since his return, he has looked very good on a Hornets team that leaves a lot to be desired. His move to the Lakers puts him on one of the biggest teams in the NBA, where he will get to play with two future Hall of Famers – LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
The Luka Doncic trade was a stroke of genius from Pelinka, but it did leave the franchise’s depth at the center position destroyed. Replacing Anthony Davis with a big of his caliber was going to be impossible, not just because of the Lakers’ limited assets, but also because there weren’t many players of that level available in the trade market.
Getting a young center for a decent price who is still on a rookie contract is a great move for the Lakers, as they could ensure his future with the franchise with a solid run of form. As for the Hornets, they get a young rookie in Dalton Knecht whom they can develop into a future star alongside LaMelo Ball, whom they want to build the team around.
Cam Reddish is a bit of a wildcard. For all the talent and potential he has, Reddish has consistently struggled to translate that on the court. His inconsistent performance level, combined with his struggles with fitness makes his acquisition by the Hornets a bit of a head-scratcher. However, the Hornets could use him as a salary asset in another trade before the trade deadline ends today at 3 PM.
But who got the best deal out of all the parties involved? Let’s go ahead and grade everyone part of this trade.
Los Angeles Lakers: A
It’s hard to put into words just how strong a trade this is. Rob Pelinka lands a talented center who averages nearly a double-double this season without having to give up a lot of assets. Not only do the Lakers have an athletic, rim-protecting center this season, but they now have the most complete roster they have had in years.
His addition is also a great boost because of their previous trade for Luka Doncic. Both Luka and LeBron have shown in the past their ability to elevate the game of any big. Doncic in particular is a brilliant pick-and-roll player, and when he has an athletic center to play off of, like Dereck Lively II, he thrives and provides immense interior scoring opportunities for his teammates.
LeBron James is perhaps the most brilliant basketball mind the sport has ever seen. And he will know exactly how to use Williams, who currently averages 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 58.6% from the field and 78.0% from the free-throw line.
The fact that the Lakers only gave up Dalton Knecht – a rookie who had begun struggling after a hot star, Cam Reddish – a fringe rotation player, a 2030 first-round pick-swap, and a 2031 first-round pick is actually a very strong move. However, Williams’ injury history and the immense value of their first-round pick keep this from being a full A+.
Mark Williams: A+
This is a great move for the young center. After two turbulent seasons riddled with injuries, Williams was coming into his own as a bright young prospect on the Hornets. Playing on the Hornets comes with its benefits and pitfalls.
The biggest benefit is that he could play without pressure and focus on improving his game. The pitfall being that he had no genuine motivation to perform at a high level other than his own pride, as the Hornets are one of the weakest teams in the NBA with no hopes of even reaching the play-in tournament.
Now on the Lakers, Williams doesn’t have that safety net. The Lakers are looking to compete for a championship. And Williams will have to play at the highest level possible as the team depends on him. But he won’t have to do it alone, as he has two of the sharpest minds in the NBA on his side, who will help him and set him up for success.
Playing with LeBron James for the next year or two will allow him to learn so much about his own game and the sport of basketball as a whole. And he gets to form an early connection with Luka Doncic, especially if the Lakers’ hopes of building around Doncic for the next decade come to fruition.
He might not have a safety net, but sometimes, that is the best thing for a player to grow. And getting two of the best players in the NBA mentoring you is a blessing few players in NBA history have had.
LeBron James: A-
At this point in his career, LeBron James must not even flinch when he sees his team land a new player. The wily veteran is still playing at the highest level possible. Not only will he now have to adapt his game to fit that of Luka Doncic, he will have to do the same for Mark Williams as well.
This is a slight inconvenience for the King at best. He is used to playing with a talented big in Anthony Davis. Of course, Williams isn’t quite at the level just yet. If anything, LeBron can help him get to that level. James will relish the opportunity to play with such an athletic big, especially if he can take his performances to a higher level on the Lakers.
Furthermore, Williams’ presence also means that James, who is 40 years old now, can relax a little bit on the defensive end, at least during the regular season. Having both a lob threat and a rim protector on a team with both James and Luka Doncic means that Williams will not lack service, and James can use his unbelievable IQ to get the best out of the young center.
Luka Doncic: B+
This grade is not necessarily reflective of the quality of Williams, or even Doncic for that matter. Rather, this just throws a spanner into the works for Luka. Now, not only does he have to adapt his own game to JJ Redick’s coaching style, but he also has to do it quickly so that he and the rest of the Lakers can adapt to the arrival of Williams.
Doncic shouldn’t have too much of a problem doing that, which is why the score is now lower than a B+. However, it is a challenge that he has to take on top of the immediate concern of building chemistry with the Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic has shown in the past that he needs some time to be able to build chemistry with new teammates.
Just look at the arrival of Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks. After the trade deadline in 2023, the Mavericks continued to struggle and even ended up missing the playoffs entirely. But after one offseason under their belt, the promise of the duo came good, and the pair took the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
The next few weeks will be difficult for Doncic. But it is nothing he can’t overcome. Plus with the added motivation to prove the Dallas Mavericks wrong, Luka should be able to get it done relatively soon.
Charlotte Hornets: B
The Hornets truly had a mixed bag with this trade. On the one hand, they gave up on a promising center prospect in Williams who could have been a big star alongside LaMelo Ball for them. Granted, Williams had his injury problems and didn’t necessarily inspire a lot of confidence among the Hornets brass. But giving up on him after a little over two seasons feels premature.
But on the other hand, the Hornets got a heck of a haul in return from the Lakers. Dalton Knecht wowed fans with his initial scoring outburst on the Lakers. And while admittedly, he has slowed down since then, he has shown that he can be a successful player in the NBA. If developed the right way, Knecht, who is on the older side for rookies, can be a key piece of their squad.
As mentioned above, Cam Reddish is pretty much a nonfactor for the Hornets, with all due respect. Expect him to be traded further, waived, or bought out by the franchise very soon.
The most important thing for the Hornets was going to be their draft haul. And the fact that they got the Los Angeles Lakers 2031 draft pick, that too without any protections, is massive, as that is a pick that could very valuable years down the line. Add to that their 2030 pick-swap, and the Hornets are in a very comfortable position, should they decide to blow up whatever project they have at the time.
Dalton Knecht: B-
The aforementioned safety net that is gone for Mark Williams is now there for Dalton Knecht. He can play for the Hornets without any massive pressure, as the team are not in any position to compete right now. On top of that, the Hornets, with all due respect, do not have the vocal and passionate fanbase that the Lakers do. As such, he will not be subjected to the scrutiny that comes with the purple and gold.
However, Knecht does miss out on getting to develop under LeBron James. Austin Reaves, who was an undrafted rookie on the Lakers, got to play a lot alongside LeBron, and it has turned him into one of the most underrated players in the NBA today. Knecht will not have that luxury.
Furthermore, unlike LeBron, his new star teammate, LaMelo Ball, isn’t a traditional point guard who sets up the team. So Knecht’s looks will reduce significantly. This trade has worked out well for many parties, but Knecht will definitely feel some type of way about his new teammates.
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