On February 2, the Los Angeles Lakers made a major move by trading Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić. Just days later, on February 6, the Lakers made another big trade, acquiring a key piece for both the present and future of their team.
The Lakers reached a deal with the Charlotte Hornets, sending Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap to Charlotte in exchange for Mark Williams, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
While Knecht’s departure is significant, as the 23-year-old had shown promise as an impactful bench shooter, the acquisition of Williams represents a substantial victory for Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka and the front office. Williams, a 7-foot center, is expected to join the Lakers’ starting lineup immediately. In the 2024-25 season, Williams put up solid numbers despite limited playing time with the Hornets, and now the Lakers will look to make him an essential part of their future alongside Dončić and LeBron James.
Here’s what you need to know about the trade:
Lakers receive:
- Mark Williams
Hornets receive:
- Dalton Knecht
- Cam Reddish
- 2031 unprotected first-round pick
- 2030 pick swap
Mark Williams’ contract details:
Williams, 23, is currently in the third year of a four-year, $18 million rookie-scale deal. His contract is structured as follows:
- 2024-25: $4,094,280
- 2025-26: $6,276,531
- 2026-27: Restricted free agent
Dalton Knecht’s contract details:
Knecht, 23, is in the first year of a four-year, $18,483,220 deal he signed as the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His contract breaks down as follows:
- 2024-25: $3,819,120
- 2025-26: $4,010,160
- 2026-27: $4,201,080
- 2027-28: $6,452,860
Mark Williams’ 2024-25 stats:
- 16.0 PPG
- 9.8 RPG
- 2.5 APG
- 0.7 SPG
- 1.2 BPG
- 59.7% FG
- 77.6% FT
Dalton Knecht’s 2024-25 stats:
- 9.4 PPG
- 3.1 RPG
- 0.9 APG
- 46.5% FG
- 35.8% 3P
- 82.5% FT
With this move, the Lakers solidify their position as one of the top teams in the Western Conference, as they now have a promising young center in Williams to complement their star-studded lineup.
