The Los Angeles Lakers' playoff run ended in the blink of an eye, wrapping up after a brief five-game series with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The disappointing postseason appearance highlighted the Lakers' need for a legitimate big-man presence after the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len failed to deliver following Anthony Davis' trade to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers' frontcourt struggles have left the fanbase wondering why general manager Rob Pelinka didn't do a better job of finding a veteran center in February. Los Angeles did have a trade lined up for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, however, the deal was rescinded when the seven-footer reportedly failed his physical exam.
Whether he was completely healthy or not, having a center like Williams could've made a huge difference in the series with the Timberwolves. Unfortunately, the Lakers' failed trade is continuing to age like warm milk now that new details have emerged.
Lakers Were Concerned Mark Williams Was Too Immature, Not Worth Price Before Failed Trade
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke reported that a failed physical wasn't the only reason the Lakers weren't the biggest fans of Williams.
"(The Lakers) worried that they overpaid for Williams, worried that he was too immature for their smart veteran system," Plaschke wrote. "Eventually that worry turned a bad physical exam into a deal killer."
It's safe to say the new details regarding the rescinded Williams trade are nothing short of embarrassing, especially amid the Lakers' early offseason.
For starters, if the Lakers thought they were overpaying for Williams' services, why agree to the trade in the first place? Even then, one can argue that L.A. was paying a fair price in the first place.
Acquiring Williams would've only cost the Lakers Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, an unprotected 2031 first-rounder, and a 2030 first-round pick swap. Considering how the ex-Duke rebounder is a rising stud who was drafted 15th overall less than three years ago, that package seems fair — especially if the Lakers are expecting Luka Doncic to keep them competitive for a decade-plus.
The idea of the above being an overpayment looks even sillier considering how the Lakers barely used the almost-traded duo down the stretch. Reddish played a grand total of just over 29 minutes in only two appearances after the deal was canceled, while Knecht's playing time plummeted to the point where he played less than four minutes in the playoffs.
It's also laughable that the Lakers allegedly thought Williams "was too immature for their smart veteran system." While head coach JJ Redick did find success in his first year behind an NBA bench, it's hard to imagine Williams would've fared any worse in his system than the likes of Alex Len, Jaxson Hayes, and Bronny James.
At the end of the day, Williams wound up being fairly healthy down the stretch. The talented big man played in 21 of the Hornets' final 30 regular-season games, averaging 14.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 62.5% from the floor on 28.3 minutes per night.
In other words, the exact type of player Los Angeles needed in the opening round.
Only time will tell if the Lakers will be able to find a center that properly fits their vision this summer, either through free agency, the trade market, or the 2025 NBA draft.