Windhorst: Hornets 'Upset' with Lakers Rescinding Mark Williams, Dalton Knecht Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets aren't considered rivals, but there will be some bad blood between the two squads when they face each other on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Hornets are "upset" about the Lakers rescinding their trade for center Mark Williams at the trade deadline earlier this month. Los Angeles initially traded Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish to Charlotte but canceled the deal after Williams reportedly failed a physical.

"Considering how upset the Hornets organization was, considering that Mark Williams went all the way to L.A., got the physical, was sent back home saying 'We think you're damaged goods,' I think you're going to see a huge diet of Mark Williams going at the Lakers tonight in what I can only figure is a Mark Williams revenge game," Windhorst said on NBA Today.

Williams, who is in his third NBA season, has played just 85 of a possible 212 games since joining the Hornets in 2022. He missed 39 games during his rookie year due to multiple injuries, including a thumb injury that required surgery, before appearing in just 19 contests a year ago because of a back injury.

Still, Los Angeles felt "confident in his medicals" at the time of the trade, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported that the Lakers wanted to "feel confident he'd be healthy enough to be their starting center for the next 5-10 years," but his failed physical indicated to Los Angeles that he would not be able to be a long-term option.

Williams has once again been limited by injuries this year, playing just 23 games. If he plays on Wednesday, it will be his first appearance since Feb. 5.

When healthy, Williams has been productive this season, putting up 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. It's understandable why the Lakers were interested in him, especially after trading star big man Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić.

If he suits up against the Lakers on Wednesday, Williams will look to prove that Los Angeles made a mistake by nixing the trade for him.

The Lakers are lacking in the big man department with Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len being their only true centers. That should give Williams the chance to attack the paint and potentially put up big numbers against the team he was briefly a part of.