The NBA All-Star break is the official halfway point of the season, with teams gearing up for the sprint for the playoffs. With the trade deadline having passed, that gives teams time to integrate their new additions. However, the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers don't have to worry about that with their last-minute deal falling apart after the deadline.
The Lakers traded Dalton Knecht, Christian Wood, a 2026 pick swap, and a 2031 first to the Hornets for Mark Williams, only for the deal to fall apart after the deadline when Los Angeles backed out of the trade following Williams' failed physical.
The Hornets were expected to file a complaint with the league regarding the rescinded trade. However, they have yet to do anything of the sort. That is a surprising update considering that they appeared upset that the Lakers backed out of the trade after the deadline had already passed.
Doing so put the Hornets in between a rock and a hard place. With Williams having failed his physical for reasons other than known injury issues, it hurts his trade value around the league. It also creates an awkward situation with Williams, considering that he will have to return to Charlotte and play out the rest of the season.
Williams will be a restricted free agent after this season, and while the failed physical could help the Hornets retain him for a cheaper price, them attempting to trade him may permanently fray their relationship with him. Charlotte also missed out on a potentially good asset in the Lakers 2031 first-round pick, adding further insult to injury.
NBA Rumors: The Charlotte Hornets failing to contest the rescinded trade is huge for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers, on the other hand, don't have the same repercussions. Dalton Knecht is still in the first year of his rookie scale contract, and his shooting will help the Lakers going forward as well as his cheap deal.
They will likely have to smooth things over with him, but they also will have team control over Knecht if he pans out for up to 8 years, including restricted free agency. They also held on to their 2031 first-round pick, keeping that asset available for another trade in the offseason.
If LeBron James agrees to accept a lower salary, the Lakers could potentially use their mid-level exception to add a big man in free agency. That would allow them to solve their center problem without having to make a big trade and add a legitimate starting-caliber center to a core that features LeBron, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
Ultimately, the Hornets failing to challenge the rescinded trade was likely because they realized that it was unlikely to be overturned by the league. Nevertheless, they will have to deal with the negative repercussions of the deal going forward.