Mark Williams' Agent: Lakers Wrong to Fail Center's Physical Before Rescinded Trade

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams' agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, states that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed his client on a physical after the two teams agreed to a deal to bring the big man to the West Coast.

"The overwhelming sentiment, after conferring with multiple, nationally recognized doctors, is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical," Schwartz said in a statement, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been given that opportunity."

The Lakers declined comment from ESPN in response to the statement.

On Feb. 6, the Lakers initially agreed to add from Charlotte for rookie Dalton Knecht, veteran Cam Reddish, a 2030 first-round pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick.

However, the Lakers failed Williams on the physical due to "multiple issues," per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Per Charania, the Lakers did not fail Williams due to any issues with his back.

Williams has dealt with numerous injuries over his career. According to Charania, Williams missed 60 percent of Charlotte's games during his three NBA seasons, "most notably for separate back and foot injuries."

When healthy, he's fared quite well. In 24 games this season, the 23-year-old Williams has averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 25.2 minutes per game. He would have been a great addition for the Lakers, who needed a big man after dealing Anthony Davis in the Luka Dončić trade.

However, Williams remains a Hornet, and he's puzzled by the physical failure.

“My agent told me [that the trade was rescinded],” Williams told reporters, per Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “I didn’t think I had failed my physical. That didn’t even cross my mind. The night I got traded I played hella minutes. I didn’t think in any world that was possible. Since I’ve been back since the start of the year, I’ve played games with a lot of minutes. I feel like every injury I’ve had has been well-documented and I’ve recovered and been 100 percent since. So, I don’t know what went into that decision. I think that’s up to them.”

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on NBA Today that the Hornets were "upset" that L.A. failed Williams on the physical. But in the end, that's what happened. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne provided more information.

And so the Lakers and Hornets move on, with the former team looking for a playoff run and the latter team continuing its rebuild around young talent.