The Lakers’ Rollercoaster: A Trade Deadline Drama
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, 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 other concerning issues, according to sources.
Now, the Lakers face the awkward task of welcoming back Knecht and Reddish, who are expected to return to the team soon. 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 trade deadline has passed, and the window for making changes is closed. This leaves the situations for James and Doncic less aligned than before. Pelinka’s first meeting with Doncic at the team’s practice facility on February 3 was supposed to yield results, especially since Doncic had handpicked Williams for the GM to pursue. Instead, the first transaction of their partnership fell through.
The Lakers are now left with Jaxson Hayes as their starting center. Hayes, a promising yet inexperienced player, is now thrust into a major 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 and provide a physical presence in the postseason. The Lakers had hoped he would bolster their frontline 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 resulted in a half measure. The chaotic trade deadline left the team unable to satisfy Doncic, who will become a free agent in 2026, and failed 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 a 2031 first-round pick, the team may have dodged a bullet, according to a team source.
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 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 arose during his physical, leading the Lakers to reassess the risk of the deal. Parting with Knecht and a first-rounder was considered a steep price, but Pelinka made the trade to establish goodwill with Doncic and improve the roster.
Exploring Other Options
The Lakers considered adding 6-10 center 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.
Hornets executive Jeff Peterson presented Williams as an option to the Lakers, and Pelinka described the opportunity as akin to finding a perfect house in the L.A. housing market. However, the Hornets framed the communication differently, stating that they made the difficult decision to move Williams after the Lakers aggressively pursued him.
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.
- Center Alex Len, waived by the Washington Wizards, intends to sign with the Indiana Pacers.
- The Lakers can still waive someone to create a roster vacancy for another center.
- 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 teammates to go to dinner with him in Los Angeles. Their mutual agent, Bill Duffy, joined them for dinner at Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills.
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.
Looking Ahead
Sitting at the end of the bench, Doncic mimicked James’ pose after a series of three-pointers, showing his excitement for the team’s success. James, after becoming the second player in NBA history to top 40 points after his 40th birthday, expressed confidence in integrating new starters.
Despite the risks, the Lakers believe they found their next franchise face in Doncic. However, his arrival brings a directive to appease him for a contract extension in 2026, or risk being stuck in a similar predicament as in 2013 when Howard left the team.
The characters have changed, but the drama remains. As Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, “This is the Lakers. This is a larger than life, legacy franchise. This is an amazing opportunity for Luka.”
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
