Charlotte Hornets, Mark Williams | David Yeazell-Imagn Images
It has been nearly a month since the Charlotte Hornets made the shocking decision to trade Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers. Not many saw it coming, especially considering that the promising big man was once thought of as a foundational player for the fledgling organization.
Fans appeared to be divided about the trade, with some saying that Williams was too talented and young to be shipped to another home just like that. On the flip side, there were folks who agreed with the move to capitalize on his value. To the front office’s credit, it did land a brilliant return, which is part of why the Lakers backing out of the deal has made it difficult for some among the Hornets faithful to move on.
Los Angeles has also vindicated itself, as the team has risen to the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference and has shown that it doesn’t need someone like Williams to anchor the paint. Whether that remains true in the postseason, though, remains to be seen.
Still, what the Lake Show did has not well with a lot of people in Charlotte. Failing Williams’ physical assessment as an excuse to rescind the trade, which might really be because of buyer’s remorse, has had folks warning of karmic retribution for the marquee franchise.
Hornets might be able to find a taker for Williams who won’t suddenly back out
For Williams and the Hornets organization, there’s no use dwelling in the past. The best the third-year pro can do is use the failed trade as motivation to improve his craft and prove why the Lakers made a mistake when they reversed course at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, Charlotte can use the coming offseason to explore potential destinations for its first-round draft pick in 2022.
Fortunately, there are teams that could be looking for a center and wouldn’t flake from completing a deal like the Purple and Gold did, such as the following.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls might not be the ideal trade partner to work with, as their front office couldn’t net a first-rounder in exchange for the pieces it had sold in the past year, namely Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine.
Still, the Bulls should be in the market for a young big man this summer with Nikola Vucevic on the wrong side of 30.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs don’t appear to have a huge need for a center, especially with Victor Wembanyama manning the paint for the proud franchise. However, the rising superstar isn’t a traditional pivot and might thrive more as a power forward.
Williams could be a great fit alongside Wembanyama on offense, as his glass-cleaning and rim-running abilities would allow the reigning Rookie of the Year to thrive with the ball in his hands. On defense, Wemby could cover for the Hornets big man’s well-documented defensive deficiencies.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors already have a core trio in place, although all of them play either the wing or forward positions. As such, the organization will likely look for a point guard and center to flank RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and Scottie Barnes.
Williams should be able to maximize his strengths in Toronto, as opposing defenses would be keying in on the other Raptors players.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards probably won’t be seeking a starting center in the market this offseason because they have already assigned that role to Alex Sarr, the 2024 No. 2 overall selection. However, some folks believe the 19-year-old is better suited at power forward because of his physique and play style.
Washington is one of the league’s worst rebounding squads, and that weakness was only exacerbated after it traded Jonas Valanciunas. It won’t be hard for Williams to plug that hole.