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Lakers Trade Dalton Knecht for New Starting Center Mark Williams

Los Angeles continues to reshape its roster.

Alex Kirschenbaum

Feb 5, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) lays in the basket over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Feb 5, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) lays in the basket over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly found their new starting center.

Per Shams Charania of ESPN, L.A. is ditching its standout first round draft pick, sharpshooting guard Dalton Knecht, plus future draft equity and a non-rotation minimum salary in exchange for young Charlotte Hornets big man Mark Williams.

In addition to Knecht, Los Angeles will lose veteran small forward Cam Reddish, its remaining movable unprotected first round pick in 2031, and a pick swap in 2030. In terms of future draft assets, the Hornets somehow fared better in their dealings with the Lakers than the Dallas Mavericks did when they sent Los Angeles (checks notes) Luka Doncic.

L.A. was in need of some major frontcourt replenishment, having offloaded 10-time All-Star center Anthony Davis, previously the Lakers' best player, for Doncic. The Lakers also shipped 3-and-D starting shooting guard Max Christie and their 2029 first round draft pick to Dallas, while offloading point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a second to the Utah Jazz.

Read More: Lakers Make Shocking Trade, Land Luka Doncic from Mavericks for Anthony Davis

Power forward/center Maxi Kleber and power forward Markieff Morris, a 2020 champion with Los Angeles, were also sent to the Lakers in the deal. But Kleber, who was a deep-bench big anyway (but part of the rotation) for the Mavericks, is sidelined for multiple months due to a fractured foot.

And at this phase of his career, Morris is more of a practice piece than a reliable rotation guy.

Read More: New Lakers Center Maxi Kleber May Not Return This Season

It was clear that the Lakers needed a long-term solution at center to pair with the 25-year-old Doncic, although it was unclear if team president Rob Pelinka would be able to swing a move for a proper starting five in time for Thursday's trade deadline.

Now, he has. The big issue with Williams is his scary injury history, but at just 23 years old, the high-upside big man out of Duke is an intriguing fit. The 7-foot big man has yet to play more than 43 games in a single season.

As ESPN's Dave McMenamin writes, the Lakers have faith that Williams' issues with a lingering foot fracture and other medical problems will not be a long-term impediment for him.

More Lakers: Rob Pelinka Reveals Trade Plans to Improve Roster for 'JJ Redick's Vision'

He's at 22 for this year (19 starts), but has an opportunity to reach at least 56 should he suit up for all of the 29-19 Lakers' ensuing regular season bouts.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN observes, by ditching two players and getting just one back, Los Angeles now has an opening on its 15-man standard roster. Will Pelinka use that on a new possible trade piece or leave it open and explore adding a vet through the buyout market?

Williams himself reacted to the reported transaction on his personal Twitter/X account, posting a pair of heart emojis in the iconic Lakers colors of purple and gold.

When healthy in 2024-25, Williams has been enjoying his best pro year yet. He's averaging 16.0 points on 59.7 percent shooting from the field and 77.6 percent shooting from the foul line, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.7 steals a night. The scoring, rebounding, passing and blocking stats represent his most prolific yet.

Losing Knecht hurts. The 6-foot-6 former Tennessee All-American marksman has already proven himself to be an impressive scorer, averaging 9.4 points on .465/.358/.825 shooting splits, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists while playing in all 48 of L.A.'s games. He looked almost certain to earn an All-Rookie Team nod, and was a nice release valve on offense for LeBron James and Davis.

But this is Luka Doncic's team now. And Doncic, as his old general manager Nico Harrison has made abundantly clear, doesn't play defense. Since a lineup of Doncic, James, Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht would have been far too porous for JJ Redick's liking, it made sense for Los Angeles to move on from him to address its biggest need.

Doncic has already been vocal about the kind of help he needs in L.A. And he hasn't even played a game yet — the 6-foot-6 pro is still recuperating from a months-long calf injury.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reports that Doncic told Lakers brass that he thrived alongside rim-rolling big men in Dallas, which inspired Pelinka to pivot from some of the more lumbering center options on the theoretical board and focus on younger, springier center options like Williams.

Should Williams figure out his health issues, this is a home run deal for the Lakers. If he can't, then they've burned their last major draft assets for the time being.

More Lakers:

Los Angeles General Manager Rob Pelinka Reveals More Details on When Luka Doncic Will Make Lakers Debut

First Look at Luka Doncic's New Lakers Jersey

For the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and notes, stay glued to Lakers On SI.

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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Basketball is Alex's favorite sport, he likes the way they dribble up and down the court.

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