I remember the lakers and media loved Knecht then realized he's inconsistent and doesn't play defense.

Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

Wasn't one of the criticisms of the new CBA that teams wouldn't be able to do trades, especially big contract players?

I don't remember this much activity near trade deadlines in the past.

Sports-Ag said:

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I remember the lakers and media loved Knecht then realized he's inconsistent and doesn't play defense.

Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

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I think the Lakers got a really good big man here.

Now, they also got a big man who even Timelord thinks is injured a lot.

That's a lot of draft capital for an injury prone player. But I guess if you look at the combined trade of that one and Luka, it's not as bad.

Iowaggie said:

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Wasn't one of the criticisms of the new CBA that teams wouldn't be able to do trades, especially big contract players?

I don't remember this much activity near trade deadlines in the past.

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I'm sure the Luka trade turned the temp up to a billion for the entire league. Would've been a relatively quiet trade season had that not occurred.

Iowaggie said:

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Wasn't one of the criticisms of the new CBA that teams wouldn't be able to do trades, especially big contract players?

I don't remember this much activity near trade deadlines in the past.

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Lots of activity, but not a lot with the teams in the 2nd apron. Just the Milwaukee trade that was primarily made to save them like $8M and cut them out of the 2nd apron. Nothing substantial with the Knicks, Suns, Wolves, Celtics, etc.

NBACentel is one of the better follows on twitter.

Bucks got a HOOPER. 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/Luay5hI8eI

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) February 5, 2025

Head Ninja In Charge said:

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Iowaggie said:

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Wasn't one of the criticisms of the new CBA that teams wouldn't be able to do trades, especially big contract players?

I don't remember this much activity near trade deadlines in the past.

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I'm sure the Luka trade turned the temp up to a billion for the entire league. Would've been a relatively quiet trade season had that not occurred.

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I don't know. Milwaukee always wanted to get out of the 2nd apron. The Fox stuff started before Luka. The Lakers spending two firsts and Knecht on a center that has played just 83 out of 212 possible games was certainly because of the Luka trade.

I think there still would have been a good amount of activity because teams are trying to dump salary to get out of the aprons, and some teams like Toronto have to buy on the trade market because they can't sign FAs as easy. Golden State has been trying to cling onto one more run in the Curry era since 22.

Just the Luka trade happening makes everything seem enormous, but the top 4 teams in each conference aren't really doing anything.

Sports-Ag said:

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I remember the lakers and media loved Knecht then realized he's inconsistent and doesn't play defense.

Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

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The other thing for the Lakers here: I actually do agree with them moving off of Knecht this early. Think it's probably the right call. His defense had also not shown any growth throughout the year and was a real problem. Don't mind them cashing in on him now.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 6, 2025

And Knecht goes to play with LaMelo Ball, who doesn't even pretend to care about defense.

What is funny is Malauch would be a perfect center for that team, but they are likely drafting top 4, and it would be malpractice to draft Malauch that early. So maybe they do it. But if they are top 4, they are likely bringing in someone like VJ, Bailey, Flagg, or Tre Johnson. Could be a really potent offense.

The Toronto Raptors are trading Davion Mitchell to the Miami Heat for PJ Tucker, a second-round pick and cash, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/J9vBISwuh4

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

Night after Jamal Shead has a career night, they move him for a guy who is somehow still dribbling around the league.

Mark Williams to the Lakers?? Are they trying to give L.A a title?

Aggie Dad 26 said:

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Mark Williams to the Lakers?? Are they trying to give L.A a title?

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He's played 83 of 212 career games and is an awful rim protector.

For players that have defended against at least 5 shots at the rim per game, Mark Williams is 3rd worst in the league giving up 67.8%

1st worst is Brooklyn guard Cam Thomas.
2nd worst is Denver guard Jamal Murray.

Austin Reaves checks in at 66.8%.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense-dash-lt6?CF=FGA_LT_06*G*5&dir=D&sort=LT_06_PCT


Anthony Davis is 54.8%
Lively is 54.3%
Gafford is 48.6%

Mark has nice offensive stats... when he plays. But he has a major history of foot, ankle, and back injuries, which isn't great for a 7'2 athletic guy.

The Phoenix Suns are trading Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/epRJty7lid

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

Going from Mark Williams to Nurk and getting 3 firsts and Knecht? That's a big win

Suns needing to give up one of their few firsts to unload Nurk after trading him for Ayton that has looked good as of late cant feel good.

Bobby Marks just said on TV that Micic and Martin both have non-guaranteed deals for next season, so the Suns can decline those options in the summer and go under the 2nd apron.

Hawks downgrading

The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward De'Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5fpE4LJzpK

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

LawHall88 said:

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Sports-Ag said:

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I remember the lakers and media loved Knecht then realized he's inconsistent and doesn't play defense.

Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QGUwETssGd

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

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The other thing for the Lakers here: I actually do agree with them moving off of Knecht this early. Think it's probably the right call. His defense had also not shown any growth throughout the year and was a real problem. Don't mind them cashing in on him now.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 6, 2025

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The value of that 2031 LA Lakers 1st-round draft pick fell once Nico traded Luka to LA. Or, I suppose if you buy what Nico is selling, it could be incredibly valuable.

The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Terance Mann and Bones Hyland to the Atlanta Hawks for Bogdan Bogdanovic and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jffPjDYiVm

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

The Atlanta Hawks are trading Cody Zeller and Houston's 2028 second-round pick to the Rockets, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

Fire sale

Detroit is acquiring Dennis Schroder from the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round pick to the Washington Wizards in a multi-team trade that sends two second-round picks to Memphis, sources tell ESPN. Memphis creates roster flexibility with the move. pic.twitter.com/HoyqkvNLke

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

What an awful move for Memphis bringing him in and handing the Celtics a title

Guitarsoup said:

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The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round pick to the Washington Wizards in a multi-team trade that sends two second-round picks to Memphis, sources tell ESPN. Memphis creates roster flexibility with the move. pic.twitter.com/HoyqkvNLke

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

What an awful move for Memphis bringing him in and handing the Celtics a title

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The Wizards are sending Marvin Bagley III to the Grizzlies as part of the deal, sources tell ESPN. Johnny Davis also sent to Memphis. https://t.co/QeEN5HCUGH

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

Memphis is trading Jake LaRavia to the Sacramento Kings, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/MLmiZTjCCf

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 6, 2025

Painful end to what passes for the Marcus Smart era in Memphis. Traded two firsts to get him, one to get off of him. Also, yeah the Grizz have too many rotation guys already, but LaRavia was solid this season. Makes a lot of nitty-gritty winning plays. Should make the Kings…

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 6, 2025

All those people who wanted us to draft Bagley and not Jaren finally got their wish.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) February 6, 2025

I like LaRavia a lot. Real lunch pail guy

One of the funniest quotes of all time https://t.co/uJt1gMFW8V

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 6, 2025

Just In: Three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons intends to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers after clearing waivers, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/D37Tzmik46

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2025

Russ last season and now Ben Simmons.

A lineup of Harden-Powell-Kawhi-Simmons-Zubac is interesting though. Good blend of a lot of different skillsets. Rotation guys of DJJ, Bogey, Dunn, Coffey, Beauchamp, and Batum. Interesting team.

The trade between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers for Mark Williams has been rescinded, according to the Lakers.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 9, 2025

Lakers had buyers remote because Mark Williams is absolute buns on defense.

Holy hell hahahaha

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. https://t.co/lY4XrSIlHf

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025

Mark Williams just went from 2 firsts and Knect to a couple seconds on the trade market.

But wait, there's more!

The Charlotte Hornets have been in contact with the NBA as they explore options to dispute the Los Angeles Lakers' failed physical assessment of Mark Williams, sources tell ESPN. The Williams/Dalton Knecht trade was nixed Saturday, and now Hornets weigh avenues to challenge.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 11, 2025