The Los Angeles Lakers exchanged against the center of Charlotte Hornets Mark Williams, according to Charania Shams d’Espn.
The Lakers paid a high price to get Williams: Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a first -round exchange in 2030 and an unprotected first -round choice in 2031. The agreement fills a major hole for the Lakers, who returned their Departure center and the Cornerstone Anthony Davis franchise in the blockbuster of this weekend Luka Donnon Trade. Now, at Williams, 23, they have found both their immediate replacement for Davis in the starting formation as well as a long -term running mate for Dononic.
The central position was a problem for Lakers all season. While Davis admirably played the position in purple and gold, the Lakers had trouble cultivating a depth in this position. When Davis thought he would stay in Los Angeles, he publicly put pressure for the team to add another big man because he prefers to play Power Forward, who He will be apparently able to do now That he plays for the Dallas Mavericks.
But the acquisition of Doncic has created a disastrous more size need in Los Angeles. Davis was the best big man that the Lakers had and the basics of all their defense. If the Lakers were going to stop with a Doncic base and LeBron James, they had to start by supporting the world of their defense. During the Press Conference for Introduction of Doncic, the Director General Rob Pelinka cited versatility, mobility and the ability to catch the Lob of Doncic as traits which he sought from a replacement of Davis.
Williams brings the three to the table. Incredibly athletic Sept-pumps which can both move and protect the defensively rim, Williams is the great prototypical man of a team Doncic. He joins the Lakers on a recruit agreement, allowing Lakers to keep most of their wages more important to use as depth or redirect in other trades. An underestimated feature that Williams brings to the table is his death. It has an average of 2.5 assists this season and should give the Lakers an additional dose of short role game creation.
Charlotte, meanwhile, has raised a beautiful pool of draft assets in recent years. In addition to these choices of Lakers, they also have a first round of the Mavericks du Commerce PJ Washington from last season as well as a choice protected by the lottery among the heat thanks to the Terry Rozier agreement. With Knecht also took into account, the Hornets store young workers.
But centers like Williams are rare, especially at his age and at his ceiling number. Lakers did not have many options to land someone on the fly that adapts so well with their list. They did it here, and it will help them make a real push to face this season.
