Last year, after acquiring Luka Dončić in a blockbuster midseason deal that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas, the Los Angeles Lakers moved quickly to address their most obvious weakness: their interior defense and rim protection. Within days, Los Angeles agreed to a trade to acquire the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, signaling confidence that he could grow alongside Dončić as a long-term frontcourt anchor, only to rescind it later.
Nearly a year after that surprising trade collapse, Williams is no longer holding back how he felt about the Lakers following their decision to move back from the deadline deal that would have sent him to Los Angeles.
Mark Williams Reacts to Trade Collapse With Lakers
The Lakers rescinded the trade after Williams reportedly failed his physical, a decision that stunned many around the league. While Los Angeles sources maintained the medical review revealed multiple concerns and was not tied to a single injury, the reversal reopened questions about Williams’ durability.
The Lakers addressed their center vacancy last summer by signing Deandre Ayton after his buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers.
From Williams’ perspective, the reversal felt deeply personal. Speaking on the “The Old Man and the Three” podcast, Williams made it clear that he was hurt by how the situation played out. He admitted he was excited about joining the Lakers, believing he could make a meaningful contribution to a playoff push alongside Dončić. Instead, he watched the opportunity disappear,
“Honestly, like fu*k y’all. And then, first game out is L.A, of course, you can’t write it any other way… I mean, really, I was excited to go there. I thought I was a piece that could really help them. Obviously, going into the playoffs, and then once they lost, obviously I tweeted little smiley face. I was hating.” Williams said.
Since then, Williams’ career path has taken a different direction. The Hornets ultimately traded him to the Phoenix Suns, where he has quietly delivered efficient production. This season, Williams has appeared in 28 games, averaging 12.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks in just under 24 minutes per night.
As for the Suns, they are currently the 7th seed in the Western Conference, with 19 wins and 14 losses. Meanwhile, the Lakers are in 5th position with 20 wins and 11 losses.
Next up, the Lakers are set to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, and they will look to bounce back from their recent defeat to the Detroit Pistons. On the other hand, the Suns will face the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
