The 2025 NBA trade season was nothing short of chaotic. Fans barely had time to process one blockbuster deal before another shook the league.
The Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis swap flipped the Western Conference on its head, while Jimmy Butler’s shocking move to the Golden State Warriors sent ripples through the East.
But not every trade went through. One of the biggest deals that fell apart involved the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers, centered around young center Mark Williams. Now, after that trade collapsed, the Hornets are back at the negotiating table, looking to move Williams once again.
Hornets Looking To Move Mark Williams Again
Despite the failed trade with the Lakers, NBA insider Marc Stein made it clear that the Hornets are still open to moving Williams.
Hornets Expected To Re-Explore Trade Market For Mark Williams https://t.co/1SQHplKmMn
— RealGM (@RealGM) March 19, 2025
“Mark Williams is obviously back with the Hornets after the Lakers rescinded their February trade for the Charlotte big man, but some rival executives expect the Williams trade market to be re-explored this summer,” Stein wrote in his blog “The Stein Line.”
Williams is currently achieving career-best numbers at age 22. Standing 7’0″ with a 7’7″ wingspan, he has showcased strong defensive skills and efficient scoring in the paint. This season, he is averaging 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, outperforming his numbers from last year’s 19-game campaign, which was cut short by multiple injuries.
But what was the initial trade with the Lakers about? The proposed deal would have sent Williams to Los Angeles along with Dalton Knecht, while Charlotte would have received a future draft-pick swap in 2030 and a separate first-round pick in 2031.
However, the trade ultimately fell apart due to medical concerns. According to multiple reports, including ESPN insider Shams Charania, Williams did not pass his physical. Further examinations revealed several issues, leading the NBA to nullify the deal.
While the Hornets have yet to make an official statement regarding Williams’ future, his situation has become emblematic of the high-stakes gambles that define the modern NBA trade landscape. However, he might not be the only major player Charlotte considers moving.
Hornets Could Trade One of Their Best Players
As reported, the Hornets are once again exploring the trade market for Williams. But recent reports suggest they may also consider trading one of their cornerstone players.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Charlotte could be open to trading LaMelo Ball. The dynamic guard, who was drafted third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, quickly became the face of the franchise.
“I touched on this with some of the other guys, and some executives around the league are looking at it too. If you were willing to part with Mark Williams—who’s 23 and pretty good, though he has some injury concerns—the next logical thing would be to also look at LaMelo Ball. He’s on a max contract, and they’re not winning, obviously, for the foreseeable future. For LaMelo, he wants to win,” said Scotto.
Ball gained widespread popularity among fans through his excellent playmaking alongside his shooting capability and his ability to regulate game speed. He secured both 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Star nod in the .
Ball is currently averaging 25.4 points and 7.2 assists through 44 games this season despite dealing with multiple injuries. With their top players apparently available for trade, the Hornets (14-47) show signs of planning a complete organizational reset.