The Los Angeles Lakers rescinded a trade with the Charlotte Hornets rookie star Dalton Knecht.
During the February 6 trade deadline, the Lakers attempted to acquire center Mark Williams from Charlotte in exchange for Knecht, forward Cam Reddish, and future draft capital.
The move came after they traded star big man Anthony Davis to Dallas for Mavericks poster boy Luka Doncic.
However, on Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the trade had fallen through as Williams failed to meet the Lakers’ standards following his physical.
‘Mark Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam, sources tell ESPN,’ Charania wrote. ‘The physical was not failed due to his back, however.’
The voided transaction leaves the Lakers with a thin frontcourt for the remainder of the season.
The Lakers traded rookie star Dalton Knecht to the Hornets at the February 6 trade deadline
The trade for big man Mark Williams fell through after the Hornets stars physical tests
On the flip side, Knecht’s return to the Lakers rotation will strengthen their shooting around LeBron James and the newly acquired Doncic.
Los Angeles selected Knecht from Tennessee with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Since arriving, he averaged 9.4 points, and 3.1 rebounds per game, shooting 46.5 per cent from the field.
The rookie also made headlines in December with a 37-point performance in a win over the Utah Jazz. Knecht also showed flashes of excellence with a 35-piece against the Phoenix Suns in the preseason.
JJ Redick’s squad sits fourth in the Western Conference with a 31-19 record. The Lakers ride a five-game win streak before facing the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Meanwhile, Williams returns to a Hornets team residing at the bottom of the East, just above the 15th-seeded Wizards at 13-36.
Williams was appealing to the Lakers, given his 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds on average for the Hornets this season.
