Grading the Lakers-Hornets Trade that Involved Mark Williams, Dalton Knecht, and Cam Reddish
February 8th, 2025
By Alan Lu
Recently, after the Lakers pulled off the shocking trade by dealing away Anthony Davis in a move to get Luka Doncic, they made another surprising trade, by dealing away their prized rookie Dalton Knecht to Charlotte to get Mark Williams. They gave away their sharpshooting rookie to add a very tall, athletic and energetic center that will offer rim protection and a lob threat that can play off of the talents of LeBron and Luka Doncic, but some are left wondering if the Lakers may have given up too much in the process.
According to Salary Swish, the trade was that the Charlotte Hornets traded away Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 first round pick swap option, and a 2031 first round pick.
Mark Williams is a seven-foot center that has been very efficient when healthy in the NBA.
(Photo: Brian Westerholt/Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)
The Los Angeles Lakers received:
He is a very talented and athletic big man that was very effective, but also injury-prone in his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, and Williams will give the Lakers a starting center that can provide strong interior play for their team. The Lakers get a solid center, as they add a player that can man the middle, and Williams will be a significant contributor for the Lakers as long as he can stay healthy.
On the other hand, they did give up a couple of solid role players in Knecht and Cam Reddish, as well as a 2030 pick swap and a 2031 first round pick, although the Lakers are expected to be a good team by then, as they will still have Luka Doncic. The Lakers gave up to get, but they fill a need by strengthening the center position and by adding a talented player that can play off of LeBron and Doncic.
Trade Grade for the Los Angeles Lakers: B+
(Photo: Stephen Lew/Imagn Images, via Fansided’s Lake Show Life)
The Charlotte Hornets received:
Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 1st Round Pick swap option (via LAL), and a 2031 1st Round Pick (via LAL)
The Hornets added a sharpshooting rookie in Dalton Knecht, as they get a very skilled swingman that will help them right away, and it will be fun to watch him play off of LaMelo Ball in Charlotte. Knecht should be a very good player for the Hornets for a long time, and he could put up All-Star caliber numbers in Charlotte.
In addition, Cam Reddish will give them a solid role player that can contribute in a variety of ways for Charlotte, and they add more draft capital that will help them in the future. They did lose their very talented, but oft-injured starting center in Mark Williams, but the Hornets made a very good haul in this trade.
Trade Grade for the Charlotte Hornets: B+
So overall, here are the trade grades for both of the teams:
Los Angeles Lakers: B+
Charlotte Hornets: B+
All in all, I felt that both teams did a very good job of getting what they wanted in this trade, and it will be interesting to see how the players involved in this trade play as the years progress.
February 8th, update: The Mark Williams-Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish trade was rescinded, so Mark Williams will remain a Charlotte Hornet, and Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish will remain members of the Los Angeles Lakers.
(Source: X/@BleacherReport)
Thanks for reading.