X/@ShamsCharania
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets risked executing a bold play, selling Mark Williams (center) to the Phoenix Suns player for the No. 29 pick and a lucrative 2029 first-round pick. The Lakers were supposedly parting ways with a potential deal with Williams just weeks prior, acts that nonetheless spoke of concerns regarding his medical evaluation.
Advertisement
A true giant at 22 years in age, he has had big flashes of brilliance while injury troubles plagued-severely, very early in this career: he played just 19 games last season, constantly/several times being sidelined due to a back issue. But when he was on the court, he was ruthless-efficient, shooting 64% from the field. However, the trade raises question marks about Phoenix long-range planning, as they give up future assets for a player with very real durability issues.
The accompanying photo with Charania’s report showed Williams, who looked preoccupied at the game with the Hornets. Once Williams was known for his defensive presence and rim-running ability, he was an extremely tantalizing prospect before the injuries held him back.
The reaction to the trade has mixed emotions: one user replied sarcastically, referencing the “infamously good” trade in the 2004 NFL Draft when the Giants landed Eli Manning: “wow i guess the giants trading for eli on nfl draft day 2004 for rivers and 3 picks wasn’t so bad hey.” Critics weighed in on Phoenix’s decision, with one disheartened commenter writing, “Big men never stay on the floor in the playoffs… trading 2 first rounders for a big man when you just drafted one… gota be dumb af.”
Talks generated around the saga surrounding Williams have continued concerning the Lakers. Several users mentioned a sort of cold feet from Los Angeles about acquiring Williams, with one stating, “LA got cold feet and lied” about the medical evaluation. Another chimed in, “Embittered by LAL not taking him just to be traded anyways. CHA dont want you bro.”
Williams’ drought in injuries was brought up in the reaction comments. “He’s been in the league 3 years and never played 45 games,” commented one skeptic, as another interjected, “Lol do y’all actually check facts or jus say random shit, dude not even injury prone, he done had 1 Injury in his short career.”
It was a gamble for Phoenix, trying to build a worthy frontcourt to accompany Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Another step in Charlotte’s rebuild, as they accumulate additional draft capital while moving on from a player with a cast over his immediate health future. The 2029 first-round pick might become especially handy once Phoenix’s championship window closes by then.
Advertisement
Tonight is the NBA draft, where the Millennials will keep their eyes glued to the newly acquired pieces to see what happens on either side. It’s clearly win-now time for the Suns; in contrast, the Hornets are building to the future. The trade, though, might take a few years to declare its fortune or fortune-less for both, but one thing is certain: this trade makes for a very interesting topic among the basketball fraternity.