Lakers trade with Charlotte has been rescinded.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/mcten/status/1888408341753303436

[BigDirk41]

Crazy

[Chicagojk]

Well if he has bad physicals, it is good for the Lakers not to get stuck with him. They can probably fine a similar deal (maybe more or less pieces) this summer.

But even with their improved play recently, this really hurts them short term. Now they have Jaxson Hayes and two way guys. Tough to think that will hold up for an extended playoff run. As ludicrous as Lebron James has been, it is tough to just say well maybe we will get the center position fixed for next year.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Williams failed his physical.

[Knutsen]

Well if he has bad physicals, it is good for the Lakers not to get stuck with him.  They can probably fine a similar deal (maybe more or less pieces) this summer.

But even with their improved play recently, this really hurts them short term.  Now they have Jaxson Hayes and two way guys.  Tough to think that will hold up for an extended playoff run.  As ludicrous as Lebron James has been, it is tough to just say well maybe we will get the center position fixed for next year.

Exactly my kind of thinking. Love of Luka aside, they now probably don’t have a real chance this season, but may have dodged a bullet long-term not giving up those future assets for a guy that couldn’t stay on the floor yet.

[Chicagojk]

Funny, the Mavs medical staff thought Williams looked great

[Smitty]

The Lakers now have 15 players under contract.

$1.6M below the second apron.

I expect them to be aggressive in the buyout market and maybe some 10-day contracts. Names that might fit:

Dwight Howard
Mo Bamba
Daniel Theis
Robin Lopez
Marques Bolden
Moses Brown

[SleepingHero]

@AnthonyIrwinLA
The Lakers’ original plan on the was to be patient and rotate through a couple 10-day deals before committing for the rest of the season. They don’t really have the room to do that now.

They basically have to hope they nail their signing or one of Wood/Kleber can help this year.

[SleepingHero]

@ramonashelburne
Teams do not like to cancel trades , especially those as significant as the Lakers-Charlotte trade for Mark Williams-Dalton Knecht. But LA gave up a lot to get Williams, they needed to feel confident he’d be healthy enough to be their starting center for the next 5-10 years. After a “thorough” evaluation of his health, they were not.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania
(@ShamsCharania)
Mark Williams' physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam, sources tell ESPN. The physical was not failed due to his back, however.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Lakers are no longer a threat in the West without a center.

Although I'm conflicted. Would've been nice if they emptied their assets for a guy that'll be injured all the time.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

wrong thread

[ThisIStheYear]

Luka took a team with Kleber and Dwight as its two bigs to the Western Finals. The Lakers can beat that. They definitely have a chance.

[omahen]

I am seeing reports now that Luka "asked" for Williams specifically. Is there a clear report confirming that? Because all I could see when the trade was announced was from Pelinka saying that Luka described the type of center he likes to play with, not a specific name. I would find it very strange Luka would suggest a specific name.

[Jym]

I am seeing reports now that Luka "asked" for Williams specifically. Is there a clear report confirming that? Because all I could see when the trade was announced was from Pelinka saying that Luka described the type of center he likes to play with, not a specific name. I would find it very strange Luka would suggest a specific name.

All I've seen is that Charlotte approached the Lakers

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I am seeing reports now that Luka "asked" for Williams specifically. Is there a clear report confirming that? Because all I could see when the trade was announced was from Pelinka saying that Luka described the type of center he likes to play with, not a specific name. I would find it very strange Luka would suggest a specific name.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4376...uka-doncic

Rather than Pelinka having results to show after his first extended meeting with Doncic at the team's practice facility Feb. 3, when Doncic handpicked Williams for the GM to attempt to land, a source familiar with the matter said, the first transaction of their partnership defaulted.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Hayes will have Doncic's support, however. He was the first of Doncic's new Lakers teammates to go to dinner with him once he arrived in Los Angeles, as Hayes, Doncic and their mutual agent, Bill Duffy of WME, dined together at Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills.

"When he was in Dallas and I was in New Orleans my first few years, they kept trying to trade for me," Hayes told ESPN on Saturday after posting 9 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks in a win over Indiana with Doncic and James watching on the bench. "New Orleans never allowed it. He was like, 'Do you remember when we couldn't trade for you?' I was like, 'Do you remember what I told you after every game I played against you?' After every game I would be like, 'If you ever need a big, I would love to play with you.' Just because of the way he moves the ball."

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

How Doncic's and James' opinions align on Hayes will be the first test of their partnership that could last months or go on for years, depending on how the rest of this season pans out.

What is clear is that Doncic will have a say. And it wasn't lost on James' camp, sources said, that Pelinka prioritized Doncic's involvement upon his arrival and immediately engaged in the Williams trade that he'd asked for, when James had for years wanted the team to trade its picks to improve its roster.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

so much drama

NBA really is a soap opera for men

[omahen]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4376...uka-doncic

Rather than Pelinka having results to show after his first extended meeting with Doncic at the team's practice facility Feb. 3, when Doncic handpicked Williams for the GM to attempt to land, a source familiar with the matter said, the first transaction of their partnership defaulted.

I read this article and here I saw the statement that Luka specifically asked for Williams, which would really surprised me. I totally believe he described the type of center, that is logical. This was what Pelinka said - he never said Luka suggested Williams specifically.  Williams obviously fits the type. There was also a report, that Lakers asked Detroit for Duren, which would somehow be against that only one particular player was hunted. So I think this article is not totally exact or perhaps misleading in the part with Luka handpicking Williams. 

As for Lakers not spending assets on the center before. LeBron is now most comfortable playing PF. Moving AD to PF and bringing in another center would create a problem for them, as LeBron would also play out of position. Trading Davis obviously created a big hole at center position and something needed to be done. I am kind of ok that trade was rescinded, as it was always obviously a huge risk spending basically all remaining assets on such a player. Downside to this is that they are really weak at center, which will probably limit them at some point. LeBron will not get any younger next season, so it will be again more difficult to compete, even if they bring in a competent center in the summer.