Grading the Lakers’ second stunning trade: Could Mark Williams be the missing piece?

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As if this year’s NBA trade deadline wasn’t crazy enough, the Los Angeles Lakers — who had already shocked the world by trading for Luka Dončić — made another big splash by making an aggressive move for Mark Williams, the center out of Charlotte, who has dramatically improved this season.

After including Anthony Davis in the aforementioned Dončić trade, the Lakers needed size. Nikola Vučević and Myles Turner were two candidates discussed ad nauseum by the fan base. Instead, the Lakers went for Williams, relinquishing Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round selection — which is unprotected — and finally a 2030 pick swap to the Hornets.

Let’s grade the trade:

Los Angeles Lakers: A+

It’s a costly acquisition, but one that makes sense on several levels.

Williams, 23, is averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in his third season. If those numbers look pedestrian to you, here’s the kicker: He’s doing it in just 25 minutes per night.

Williams is also a high-quality defender. His enormous 7-foot-2 frame, and near 7-7 wingspan, allows him to challenge shots near the rim, and deter players from relentlessly driving toward him.

Offensively, those measurements also help Williams have a wide catch radius on lobs, which would fit beautifully with an elite lob passer, who can get into the paint, collapse the defense, and make elite reads off the defensive movements.

That description sounds eerily similar to that of a certain Slovenian.

The Lakers did pay a huge price for Williams here, and Williams has dealt with injuries, but the upside and theoretical fit with Dončić and LeBron James is off the charts.

Furthermore, the Lakers invested in their future. That may sound off when they just traded away Knecht and draft equity, but Williams is on a similar timeline as Dončić, and presents a solution to a bigger need than Knecht does.

This is a strong get from the Lakers, so for the second time this trade deadline week, they deserve a thorough A+.

Charlotte Hornets: B

The Hornets rightfully squeezed the Lakers for all they could get for Williams, walking away with a young and effective wing…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/grading-the-lakers-second-stunning-trade-could-mark-williams-be-the-missing-piece-132709173.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-06 13:27:00

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