After pulling off the NBA’s biggest surprise trade by bagging Luka Doncic, you would have thought the LA Lakers were done and dusted during this trade window, right? Wrong! The Lakers have shown they are willing to invest even more in their future. Their trade for Mark Williams proves this. Sure, the Lakers had to give up Dalton Knecht, but they got a big man at the center, something they desperately needed. And fans are thrilled. So why is Skip Bayless not amused?
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While Bayless agreed that Knecht’s inconsistency would have harmed the Lakers later in the season, he questioned the acquisition of Williams. His concern? The former Duke center has not proven much in his career, either in college or in the NBA.
The analyst claimed the Lakers did get a good young center, but added that overall, Williams had not done much in his career.
“Lakers needed a center and they got a pretty good one in Mark Williams – even tho HE never made much of a difference at Duke and in Charlotte,” Bayless wrote on X.
Hate to see the Lakers have to give up on Dalton Knecht so soon. Yet he has revealed himself to go cold from 3 for long stretches — 36%. Lakers needed a center and they got a pretty good one in Mark Williams – even tho HE never made much of a difference at Duke and in Charlotte.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 6, 2025
On stats alone, Bayless is quite right in his assessment. Williams averaged 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game in his two seasons at Duke — not bad, but not great either. He had a rather quiet rookie season in Charlotte, playing as a backup for Mason Plumlee. His sophomore season was cut short due to a back injury.
And he missed a big chunk of this season due to a fractured foot. But to be fair, Williams has been playing some incredible basketball since his return from injury.
The Lakers think tank has clearly gone by this. The question is, have they given up too much in return?
Consider what they’ve yielded: Knecht, Cam Reddish, and 2 picks (2030 and 2031). They are left a little short on bench scoring, as Knecht averaged 9.4 points on 36% from three. Their defense also takes a slight hit, with Reddish averaging a steal per game on limited game time.
On the flip side, the deal sees the Lakers improve in the one area where they desperately needed reinforcements.
Mark Williams fits the Lakers’ long-term plans
When Doncic arrived in LA, it was clear they were building for life after LeBron James. Williams, a 7-foot-2 center, is an excellent lob threat, which is exactly what Doncic loves. He’s lethal in pick-and-roll situations, and with Doncic and James feeding him, he’s liable to see a significant leap in his production.
He’s already averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds this season for a lowly Hornets team. The only concern is his injury history. Williams has only played 23 games this season, missing more than half due to a fracture in his left foot. However, according to journalist Dave McMenamin, the Lakers aren’t too worried about this. Since his injury didn’t require surgery to recover from, it is not a cause for concern.
While he isn’t a great defender, his size and near 7-foot-7 wingspan make him a serious obstacle inside the paint. With their offense sorted for the foreseeable future, the Lakers are taking serious steps to ensure they fix their defensive woes.
And Williams is the first step in the right direction for the LA team.
