The Lakers’ Rollercoaster: A Week of Trades and Tribulations
In a move that sent shockwaves through the basketball community, the Los Angeles Lakers made headlines by acquiring franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic just five days before the NBA trade deadline. But the drama didn’t stop there. Just two days after the deadline, the Lakers made another stunning move by rescinding their trade for 7-foot center Mark Williams.
For a brief 48 hours, the Lakers found themselves in a unique position, enhancing their current roster for LeBron James while also securing the future of the franchise. This dual focus is the kind of strategy that can turn championship aspirations into reality. However, just as quickly as this transformation began, the Lakers had to pivot to a new reality.
At 9:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, nearly a week after the Doncic deal was finalized—which cost the Lakers Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and their 2029 first-round pick—the Williams trade was nixed. Williams was supposed to join the Lakers in exchange for rookie Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. However, Williams failed the Lakers’ physical exam, not due to his previous back injury, but because of multiple other concerns, according to sources.
Now, the Lakers face the awkward task of reintegrating Knecht and Reddish back into the team. According to team sources, both players are expected to return in the coming days. The current roster, as described by vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, “has continued work to do to become complete.”
The challenge is that the trade deadline has passed, leaving the Lakers with limited options. The situations for James and Doncic are no longer aligned. Pelinka’s first meeting with Doncic at the team’s practice facility on February 3rd, where Doncic specifically requested Williams, has not yielded the desired results.
Currently, the team is left with Jaxson Hayes as the starting center. Hayes, a promising yet inexperienced player, is now thrust into a significant role. The only other big men on the roster are Christian Wood, who has been sidelined all season due to knee surgery, and two-way contract players Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III.
Williams, at 23, was seen as a player who could grow alongside the 25-year-old Doncic, providing a physical presence and a lob threat for the postseason. This would have been crucial against teams like the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite the aggressive approach described by a team source, the Lakers’ efforts have resulted in a half measure. The chaotic and transformational trade deadline has left the team unable to fully satisfy Doncic, who will become a free agent in 2026, and unable to maximize James’ 22nd season by not acquiring a much-needed big man.
The Lakers’ ability to move on from the Williams situation will be crucial for their short-term success. In the long term, without Williams but with Knecht and the 2031 first-round pick, a team source noted, “That was a lot [to give up]. We kind of dodged a bullet.”
Internal Debates and Health Concerns
Before the Williams trade was agreed upon, there was internal debate within the Lakers organization about whether he was worth the price, especially given his injury history. Williams has missed nearly two-thirds of the Hornets’ games due to various injuries since being drafted in 2022.
The Lakers revamped their medical staff in the offseason, hiring Dr. Leroy Sims as the director of player performance and health. “We fully vetted [Williams’] health stuff,” Pelinka said. “He’s had no surgeries. So these are just parts of, he’s still growing into his body. We vetted the injuries he’s had, and we’re not concerned about those.”
Despite the confidence in Williams’ potential, additional concerns were identified during his physical, leading the Lakers to reassess the risk of the deal. Parting with Knecht and a first-rounder was considered steep, but Pelinka made the trade to establish goodwill with Doncic and improve the roster.
Exploring Other Options
The Lakers considered adding Jericho Sims before he was moved to Milwaukee. Sims would have fit the “stuff around the margins” category that Pelinka mentioned during Doncic’s introductory news conference. “The market for bigs right now … is very dry,” Pelinka said.
Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson presented Williams as an option to the Lakers. “This opportunity came to us,” Pelinka said. “Maybe it’s in some sense like the L.A. housing market. Not every house is listed. And sometimes you become aware of something that’s available that’s not on the market.”
Even if the Lakers avoided a potential pitfall with Williams’ health, the aftermath of reversing the trade has consequences. The team will need to repair its relationship with Knecht, and there is a perception of fumbled execution by the front office.
Looking Ahead
Center Alex Len, who was waived by the Washington Wizards, intends to sign with the Indiana Pacers. Len is one player the Lakers could have pursued.
The Lakers can still waive someone to create a roster vacancy for another center. They have enough room under the second apron to sign a buyout player for the rest of the season. “We will find another center path,” a team source said. “The path is always there. We just got to put in the work to find it.”
In the meantime, Hayes has been a bright spot, averaging 8.0 points on 77.3% shooting, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.0 steals during the Lakers’ five-game winning streak.
Hayes will have Doncic’s support, as he was the first of Doncic’s new Lakers teammates to go to dinner with him. “When he was in Dallas and I was in New Orleans, they kept trying to trade for me,” Hayes said. “After every game, I would be like, ‘If you ever need a big, I would love to play with you.'”
How Doncic’s and James’ opinions align on Hayes will be the first test of their partnership. Doncic will have a say, and it wasn’t lost on James’ camp that Pelinka prioritized Doncic’s involvement upon his arrival.
The Bigger Picture
Sitting at the end of the bench, Doncic mimicked James’ pose after a series of three-pointers. By the end of the night, James was beaming with excitement after the Lakers’ 10th win in 12 games.
James was asked about integrating new starters, to which he replied, “I don’t really see a challenge. Everybody get in the right spots. Hold each other accountable. Play basketball the right way. Share the ball.”
These moves don’t come without risk. By keeping negotiations closed and parting with someone close to James, Pelinka’s move could have caused tension. However, James understood the business decision and accepted it.
Pelinka was aware of James’ affinity for Doncic, and the GM figured James would see the move as a basketball fit. The urgency for the Lakers to win championships is ever-present, but urgency can come in degrees.
As much as the praise for one another seems genuine, the differing timelines of James and Doncic create a natural tension. The franchise tried, but ultimately failed, to reconcile this deadline.
Conclusion
In the high-stakes game of maintaining the Lakers’ status as a glamour franchise, every move counts. If Harrison had never approached Pelinka, a transformative deadline might have been for naught.
The Lakers would have listened to Davis’ request to play alongside another big and tried to trade for one. If it didn’t work, the Lakers would have fewer assets to find their next star.
As painful as it was to bid farewell to Davis, the Lakers believe they found their next face of the franchise in Doncic. However, his arrival brings a directive to appease him for a contract extension in 2026.
The characters have changed, but the drama remains. And maybe that’s part of what it takes to perpetuate what the Lakers are actually selling.
“I mean, this is the Lakers. This is a larger-than-life, legacy franchise,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “This is an amazing opportunity for Luka. And I think certainly LeBron and him have an affinity for each other that goes back to really Luka’s first year in the league. The whole thing is an amazing string of events.”
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
