The Los Angeles Lakers continue to make waves at the trade deadline, pulling off yet another bold move Wednesday night by acquiring 23-year-old center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets.
In exchange, the Lakers sent a 2031 first-round pick, a 2030 pick swap, Cam Reddish, and rookie Dalton Knecht to Charlotte-a deal that caught many off guard, much like the blockbuster that brought Luka Dončić to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis.
The need for a center had been looming ever since the Davis trade, with names like Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner circulating in trade rumors.
But Williams? He was never publicly mentioned as a target, making the move all the more surprising.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, known for operating in the shadows before striking, was at the center of yet another stealthy acquisition.
Fresh off orchestrating one of the biggest trades in NBA history by landing Dončić, Pelinka wasted no time in addressing the team’s most glaring hole. And just like the Dončić deal, this one came together fast.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) © Scott Kinser-Imagn Images © Scott Kinser-Imagn Images Speaking to reporters before Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors, Pelinka revealed that it was Charlotte who initiated discussions, reaching out to the Lakers about their need for a center.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the entire negotiation process lasted less than 48 hours.
“In a small press conference with reporters pregame, Lakers VP of basketball ops and GM Rob Pelinka said that Charlotte reached out to LA regarding their need for a center.
The Mark Williams trade was negotiated and agreed upon between the two sides in less than two days,” Buha wrote. Williams wasn’t openly on the trade market, but once he became available to them, LA decided to go all-in and make an aggressive offer for the 23-year-old big.
Williams fit the center archetype that Pelinka and Luka Doncic discussed upon Doncic arriving in LA. — Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 7, 2025 Williams wasn’t even on the trade market initially, but once he became available, the Lakers were aggressive in making sure they got their guy.
It’s a trend with Pelinka, who operates with a level of secrecy that often blindsides the rest of the league.
The Dončić-Davis swap was first initiated by the Mavericks only days before it materialized.
Similarly, the Williams trade wasn’t something the Lakers had planned weeks in advance-it was an opportunity that presented itself, and Pelinka pounced.
Now, Williams joins a Lakers team that has rapidly reshaped its identity, pairing Dončić with LeBron James and filling the massive void left in the frontcourt.
Whether Williams can be the long-term answer at center remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Pelinka isn’t waiting around.
The Lakers are in win-now mode, and they’re not done making noise.
