{"id":122945,"date":"2025-02-09T07:18:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T12:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=122945"},"modified":"2025-02-09T07:18:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T12:18:38","slug":"mark-williams-was-almost-the-next-great-laker-big-whats-next-for-him-on-the-hornets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/09\/mark-williams-was-almost-the-next-great-laker-big-whats-next-for-him-on-the-hornets\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Williams Was Almost The Next Great Lakers Big, What’s Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> thought they had found their center of the future in Mark Williams<\/a>. They saw him as the perfect frontcourt partner for Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> down the line. In the short term, he would have provided size and depth at a position of need.\u00a0 Concerns over Williams’ injury history ultimately led the Lakers to back out<\/a>. Now, Mark Williams is headed back to the Hornets.<\/p>\n

Mark Williams Was Almost The Next Great Lakers Big, What’s Next For Him On The Hornets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 23-year-old center has struggled with ankle issues and various other ailments. While Anthony Davis<\/a> has a reputation for missing games, Williams’ availability has been even worse. Davis has played in 71.4% of possible games in his career (312 out of 437). Williams has played in just 39.6% (84 out of 212).<\/p>\n

The Lakers were willing to take a gamble, offering a significant trade package. They included an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, a recent first-round selection in Dalton Knecht<\/a>, and an additional pick swap. This deal represented their last major trade asset. Ultimately, general manager Rob Pelinka decided the risk was too high. When Williams reportedly failed his physical, the Lakers rescinded the trade.<\/p>\n

Two Different Outcomes After a Failed Physical<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A failed physical can alter the course of a player\u2019s career in different ways. Some never fully recover from the stigma, while others use the setback as motivation. The cases of Donatas Motiejunas<\/a> and Tyson Chandler<\/a> highlight two contrasting paths.<\/p>\n

Donatas Motiejunas: A Career Derailed<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In 2016, the Houston Rockets<\/a> traded Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton<\/a> to the Detroit Pistons<\/a> in a three-team deal. The Rockets expected a protected first-round pick in return, while the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> absorbed Joel Anthony\u2019s<\/a> contract and received a second-round pick. However, the deal fell apart when Motiejunas failed his physical due to lingering back issues.<\/p>\n

As a result, all the players returned to their original teams\u2014except for JaKarr Sampson,<\/a> whom the 76ers had waived to make room for Anthony. He had already been claimed by the Denver Nuggets<\/a>, leaving Philadelphia without the asset they sacrificed.<\/p>\n

Motiejunas\u2019 medical concerns continued to plague him. Later that year, he failed another physical with the Rockets in restricted free agency, voiding a lucrative contract. With NBA teams wary of his long-term health, he struggled to find consistent opportunities. After a brief stint with the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> on a veteran minimum deal, he ultimately left the league, continuing his career in China.<\/p>\n

Tyson Chandler: A Championship Redemption<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In 2009, the then-New Orleans Hornets attempted to trade Tyson Chandler<\/a> to the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> for Joe Smith<\/a>, Chris Wilcox,<\/a> and draft rights to DeVon Hardin<\/a>. Chandler had missed games due to a sprained ankle, but Thunder doctors flagged an old left toe injury and deemed the risk of re-injury too high. Oklahoma City backed out of the trade, sending Chandler back to New Orleans.<\/p>\n

Unlike Motiejunas, Chandler quickly found another opportunity. Just a few months later, the Charlotte Bobcats acquired him for Emeka Okafor<\/a> after clearing him medically. Chandler played one season in Charlotte before joining the Dallas Mavericks<\/a> in 2010. The move changed his career.<\/p>\n

With Dallas, Chandler became the defensive anchor of a championship team, helping the Mavericks defeat the Miami Heat<\/a> in the 2011 NBA Finals. He later signed with the New York Knicks,<\/a> where he won the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, the Thunder pivoted to Kendrick Perkins<\/a>, whose long-term contract contributed to their decision to trade James Harden<\/a> instead of offering him a max extension.<\/p>\n

A Failed Physical Isn’t Always the End<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Motiejunas and Chandler show how failed physicals can have drastically different outcomes. Some players, like Chandler, prove doubters wrong and reach new heights. Others, like Motiejunas, struggle to overcome concerns and see their careers stall.<\/p>\n

Williams now finds himself at a similar crossroads. Whether he follows Chandler\u2019s path or Motiejunas\u2019 will depend on his health, performance, and the opportunities that come next. This failed trade, however, has immediate consequences for both him and the Hornets.<\/p>\n

A Lost Opportunity for Mark Williams<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Williams is eligible for a rookie extension this offseason, but his leverage has taken a hit. Convincing the Hornets to pay top dollar will be difficult when the last team that tried to acquire him walked away due to medical concerns.<\/p>\n

He now faces two choices. He could accept a lower-than-expected extension offer to secure his financial future. Or, he could bet on himself, play out the 2025-26 season, and prove his durability to the rest of the league. Either way, he just missed out on a golden opportunity. The Lakers could have maximized his earnings potential. Instead, he remains with a Hornets team unlikely to make the playoffs anytime soon.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for the Hornets?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Charlotte now finds itself in a difficult position. The Hornets had a great offer for Mark Williams\u2014an unprotected first-rounder, a swap, and Knecht. That level of value for an injury-prone big man was rare. With the trade canceled, the Hornets must pivot.<\/p>\n

The new Hornets front office has prioritized accumulating draft picks. They traded Terry Rozier<\/a> and P.J. Washington<\/a> for future assets. Williams seemed like the next logical piece to move. Now, trading him for a similar return seems impossible.<\/p>\n

With no clear trade market, the Hornets and Williams must find a way to make things work. Whether that means a long-term extension or a short-term partnership before another trade attempt, they need each other for now.<\/p>\n

Can Mark Williams Prove Himself on the Hornets?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite his injuries, Williams remains a promising talent. His physical tools are elite\u2014his 9’9″ standing reach is the highest in the NBA. Since December 26, he has averaged<\/a> 17.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 57.8% from the field and 79.0% from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

If he can stay healthy, Williams still has a bright future. But for now, his failed trade to the Lakers serves as a reality check. Mark Williams must prove to the Hornets\u2014and the rest of the league\u2014that he can be a durable, franchise-caliber center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Lakers thought they had found their center of the future in Mark Williams. They saw him as the perfect frontcourt partner for Luka Don\u010di\u0107 down the line. In the short term, he would have provided size and depth at a position of need.\u00a0 Concerns over Williams’ injury history ultimately led the Lakers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":122946,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,7,26],"tags":[49212,638,1133,4044,2113,98,4745,759,647],"class_list":["post-122945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-hornets","category-lakers","tag-dalton-knecht","tag-donatas-montiejunas","tag-luka-doncic","tag-mark-williams","tag-nba-contract-extension","tag-nba-draft","tag-nba-injuries","tag-rob-pelinka","tag-tyson-chandler"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122945"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122947,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122945\/revisions\/122947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}