Charlotte Hornets starting center Mark Williams is on the move, seemingly for real this time.
The Hornets are trading Williams to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 29 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft and a first-round pick in the 2029 NBA Draft, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The Suns (on behalf of the Hornets) went on to select Liam McNeeley out of UConn with the No. 29 pick.
Williams was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish ahead of the trade deadline in February, but the Lakers announced two days later that the trade had been ‘rescinded due to failure to satisfy a condition of the trade.’ A person with knowledge of the decision told USA TODAY Sports that the trade fell through because Williams failed a physical. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information.
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That meant Williams returned to Charlotte, but not for long. He’s now being sent to the Suns to help address the team’s need for a big. The Suns, who acquired the No. 10 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft after trading Kevin Durant to the Rockets, drafted Duke center Khaman Maluach 10th overall Wednesday.
Williams was drafted out of Duke with the 15th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft by Charlotte, where he’s spent the first three years of his career. He averaged career-highs in points (15.3), rebounds (10.2) and assists (2.5) in 44 games (41 starts) last season, but a number of injuries have sidelined Williams for significant time to start his career.
He played in 43 games (17 starts) his rookie season and was limited to 19 games (all starts) his sophomore season with the Hornets after suffering a back injury. Through three seasons, he’s played a total of 106 out of 246 total games.
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