‘Can’t write it any other way’: Hornets’ Mark Williams opens up on rescinded trade to Lakers
If there was a sliver of angst or any thought the weirdness meter would be off the charts during Mark Williams’ first days back with the Charlotte Hornets, the scenes in Southern California quickly quelled that notion.
LaMelo Ball is busting Williams’ chops while he’s explaining the chaotic nature of the past two weeks to inquiring minds and drops a few choice words in his ebullient, unique style. Miles Bridges comes by seconds later, loudly and proudly telling the 7-footer how much he loves him.
Spurned by the Los Angeles Lakers due to a failed physical and returned to the Hornets following the agreed upon Feb. 6 deal for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and draft pick compensation prior to the NBA trade deadline, Williams has been on quite the ride lately. And the emotional roller coaster was enough to leave him a tad queasy.
“I mean, it’s crazy,” Williams said. “Your mind has to shift from you got traded, you’ve got to go to L.A. and then you’ve got to shift back from you’re not going to L.A. So, it’s definitely different.
“It’s a lot on your mind and you’ve got to take what life gives and make the most of every opportunity you’ve got.”
And how ironic is this: Williams’ initial game of his ‘second’ stint with the Hornets comes on Wednesday night against … the very team that discarded him, a move that had Charlotte appealing to the NBA to see if anything could be done to alter the outcome.
Those same Lakers. At Crypto.com Arena.
“Can’t write it any other way right?” Williams said. “NBA script. It’s just what it is.”
All because the Lakers deemed Williams damaged goods in a sense, following the recommendation of their team physician. During his two-plus seasons in the league, Williams has dealt with a variety of injuries that’s led to him logging action in only 85 games.
A back problem cost him all but 19 games last season, and a strained tendon in his left foot sustained in September sidelined him until Dec. 3, marking nearly a full calendar year of missed action.
Still, given he’s been available save for the team occasionally resting him on either the front or tail end of games on consecutive nights, Williams remains dumbfounded the process got reversed. Less than 48 hours after the trade was officially finalized, Lakers vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka dialed up Williams’ representative and informed him Williams wouldn’t be teaming up with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Instead, the trade was off, leaving Williams stunned.
“My agent told me,” Williams said. “I didn’t think I had failed my physical. That didn’t even cross my mind. The night I got traded I played hella minutes. I didn’t think in any world that was possible. Since I’ve been back since the start of the year, I’ve played games with a lot of minutes. I feel like every injury I’ve had has been well-documented and I’ve recovered and been 100% since.
“So, I don’t know what went into that decision. I think that’s up to them.”
Balancing the emotions of the Lakers failing Williams despite him feeling otherwise about his health prognosis is quite a mental chore.
“Yeah, there’s not really much I can do,” Williams said. “Like I said, I’ve been playing. You went from shocked to excited, back to shocked. You control what you can control.”
Including getting reincorporated into the organization again.
“It was seamless,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “He’s been a big part of this thing, Day One since I’ve got the job. He’s been fully bought in, he’s been with the team in summer league, he’s made phenomenal relationships on and off the court with these guys. I think they understand who he is as a person, the character, his care factor for the game and his team.
“And they see the talent, what he can do on the court as well, and how much he helps affect them offensively and defensively to the positive side. So all the guys are happy to have him back. I know me and the staff are extremely excited and looking forward to continuing to build some good habits over these next 30 games.”
Williams’ presence bolsters a center rotation initially weakened with his temporary departure. Jusuf Nurkic, acquired from Phoenix on Feb. 6, didn’t make his debut until Charlotte’s final game before the All-Star break and had been pegged for a reserve role behind Moussa Diabate.
Diabate, who cashed in on a standard NBA contract following the trade deadline activity, was given the starting nod. But that all changes now with Williams in the fold again.
“I think each one of us brings something different,” Williams said. “I don’t see that as a negative thing. I just see it as another piece of the puzzle that we are able to have. So, I think it will be just good for us.”
Similar to the mentality Williams is now taking: letting his game do the talking.
“Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me is showing I’m healthy,” Williams said. “Like I said, I didn’t think there was a world (where) I’d fail a physical. So, I’m just excited to play.
“I get it’s a business, right? What I got traded for, picks, players … Like I said, it’s a business. Obviously, on their side, they thought I could have contributed to them winning going into the playoffs, whatever. And now I’m back here. I’m back with the guys, excited.”
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
