The Los Angeles Lakers are trading rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and draft picks to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams, a person familiar with the deal.
The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the trade had not yet been finalized on Wednesday night.
In addition to Williams, the Hornets will receive the Lakers’ 2031 first-round pick and a first-round pick swap in 2030.
Williams, one of the NBA’s promising young centers, adds to the Lakers’ revamped roster. The Lakers made a big move recently by acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis.
Williams addresses a major need for the Lakers, who had been left with Jaxson Hayes as their only veteran center after Davis left and Christian Wood was out due to an injury.
At 7-foot-2, Williams has faced injury struggles in his three seasons with the Hornets, playing only 84 games because of back issues. However, when healthy, he’s shown his potential.
This season, Williams has averaged 16 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in 22 games. He has thrived in pick-and-roll situations while playing alongside LaMelo Ball.
Williams, who is familiar with Lakers coach JJ Redick from their time at Duke, should mesh well with Doncic, who can set him up for lob passes and pick-and-roll opportunities. Williams will also be expected to contribute defensively for the Lakers, especially after Davis’ departure.
Williams has posted seven double-doubles in his last 11 games, including a 31-point, 13-rebound performance against the Jazz. He scored 38 points in a loss to Memphis last month, but his play has been inconsistent. In a recent game against Milwaukee, he struggled with just six points and five rebounds.
Williams appears excited about the trade, sharing gold and purple hearts on social media late Wednesday.
This is the second center the Hornets have traded this season. They previously dealt 7-foot Nick Richards and a 2025 second-round pick to Phoenix for guard Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks.
The Hornets are clearly focused on long-term growth under new owners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, collecting multiple assets. The team now has their first-round pick for the next seven years, plus several other picks from future trades.
Knecht, who was the Lakers’ first-round pick last year, has averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds as a rookie. He started 12 games, including a 37-point performance with nine 3-pointers, but his playing time has decreased in 2025.
Reddish has averaged 3.3 points per game in his second season with the Lakers. He started 26 games last year but has played much less under Redick.
Doncic, who has been out since Christmas with a strained left calf, is expected to make his Lakers debut on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers will decide that in the morning.
With this deal, the Lakers have traded seven of the 13 players on their opening night roster. The trade also cleared a spot for the Lakers to add another player to their roster.
