The Charlotte Hornets‘ trade attempt involving Mark Williams at last year’s deadline ended abruptly when Williams failed his physical, leaving a lasting impact on NBA teams’ strategies this season. This situation contributed to more deals being finalized earlier than usual ahead of the 2024 deadline, as front offices wanted to avoid similar complications.
Last year’s physical issues prompt early trade decisions
Fred Katz from The Athletic revealed that concerns over multiple players failing physicals last year, with Mark Williams at the center, caused unease among NBA executives. This hesitation led to a precautionary approach, with several teams opting to complete trades well before the deadline to mitigate risk. The Hornets’ disrupted trade involving Williams and the Los Angeles Lakers particularly stood out as a cautionary example.
Charlotte had to take Williams back and return Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, the right to swap picks in 2030, and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick to the Lakers after the deal unraveled. As a result, the Hornets resumed the 2024-25 season with Williams back on their roster, although his professionalism prevented any internal discord.
Consequences for the Lakers’ roster planning
The Lakers, meanwhile, faced significant challenges following the canceled trade. Their reliance on Jaxson Hayes and smaller lineups revealed the vulnerability in their big man depth. With the trade deadline passed and no center added, their options to address this gap vanished. Although they signed Deandre Ayton in the offseason, his performances have not fully compensated for the loss of Williams, who has flourished with the Phoenix Suns.
Charlotte finds a way forward despite setbacks
Despite the complications, the Hornets eventually made moves that proved beneficial. They managed to trade Williams, acquiring a 2025 first-round pick used to draft Liam McNeeley, a 2029 first-rounder, and Vasilije Micic. The latter was then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Pat Connaughton and two second-round selections. This sequence helped Charlotte recover assets after last year’s setbacks.
The Hornets appear to have learned from the previous issues, completing their most significant trade early this season by acquiring Coby White from the Chicago Bulls. With no major deals expected soon, they seem to be concentrating on augmenting their draft capital and acting as trade facilitators to build for the future.
Still, Charlotte remains active in the market, holding onto tradable players that could address roster needs or yield additional draft picks, keeping the Hornets in conversations as the season progresses.
Something suggested to me by a front office person: One reason why we might be seeing lots of Tuesday/Wednesday trades this year is because three guys having issues with their physicals at the trade deadline last year freaked everyone out — especially the Mark Williams deal,…
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) February 4, 2026
