After landing Luka Doncic 11 months ago, the Los Angeles Lakers quickly went to work looking to build a championship team around him. Just days later, they agreed to send Dalton Knecht, wing Cam Reddish and draft compensation for then-Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.
But the trade was rescinded shortly afterward because he reportedly failed his physical with the Lakers. It was a surprising development, even though Williams has been injury-prone during his short NBA career.
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He took a couple of shots at the Lakers on social media afterward, and on a recent appearance on "The Young Man and the Three" podcast, he recounted what happened when he found out his trade to L.A. was rescinded and the aftermath of that decision. He made it clear that he was upset about what transpired.
“And then they tell me (about the failed physical and rescinded trade),” Williams said. “I’m like, that can’t be. I just played the [Milwaukee] Bucks that night that I got the call I’m getting traded. I’m out here. They’re like, ‘Yeah, it’s done. Like, we’re not going back.’ I was like, ‘Y’all can’t undo the undo? Like, what you mean?’ They’re like, ‘No, it’s done.’ So I’m hot. I was excited. ... We play them first game out the break, and then I got to go back to Charlotte. So All-Star break, I’m just like, ‘What the [expletive]?’ “And then, first game out is L.A, of course, you can’t write it any other way… I mean, really, I was excited to go there. I thought I was a piece that could really help them. Obviously, going into the playoffs, and then once they lost, obviously I tweeted little smiley face. I was hating.”
The Hornets ended up trading Williams to the Phoenix Suns last summer. This season, he has played in 28 of a possible 33 games and averaged 12.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks in 23.9 minutes a game. In three games against the Lakers this season, he has averaged 17 points and two blocks a game, with his new team winning two of those contests.
Los Angeles signed Deandre Ayton to fill its big void at the center position last summer after his previous contract was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers. It's debatable whether he's a better rebounder, shot blocker or rim protector than Williams, but he's certainly a more capable offensive player, and he's giving L.A. 14.6 points a game on 70.6% field-goal shooting so far this season.
Williams can be as resentful as he wants for having his trade to the Lakers rescinded, but perhaps they found an even better option at the 5 in Ayton without having to give up any assets.
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This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Mark Williams on how mad he was about Lakers' rescinded trade

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