By February 6, 2025
Photo: Kurt Shackelford / CLTure
Jeff Peterson is sending a firm message to the Hornets fan base: the rebuild will continue. After a busy trade deadline day, Charlotte made two separate trades, sending out Mark Williams, Cody Martin, Vasilije Micić, and a 2026 second-round pick in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, Jusuf Nurkic, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick (Lakers), a 2030 first-round pick swap (Lakers), and a 2026 first-round pick (Suns).
Goodbye, Mark
Drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Duke, Williams will now likely be the starting center for the Lakers, playing alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
Many expected the Hornets to have a quiet trade deadline, but instead, they went nuclear and shipped off one of their “core” players. Sure, Williams had defensive issues, but he was also showing offensive growth. And yet, Jeff Peterson pulled the trigger.
The Lakers have made their move for a big man, and it’s Charlotte’s Mark Williams. The Hornets will get Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick (unprotected), and a 2030 pick swap from the Lakers for the former 15th overall pick, Williams, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/hls3EveILv
— CLTure® ( culture ) (@CLTure) February 6, 2025
Why trade Mark Williams?
It’s hard to believe this was Peterson’s plan from the start; otherwise, Donovan Clingan would have been heavily considered in the 2024 draft, but reports suggested he wasn’t. This was more of a perfect storm of factors that created an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
Williams played only 85 games over two and a half seasons and had a concerning track record of slow injury recoveries. While his wingspan made him seem like a defensive anchor in theory, in practice, he was showing signs of regression.
And then there’s the contract — this summer, he would have been eligible for an extension likely in the $20-30 million per year range. That’s a significant financial commitment for someone who has spent more time injured than on the court. Meanwhile, the Lakers were desperate for a lob-catching big to pair with Luka. They were so desperate, they made an offer Peterson simply couldn’t refuse. If he had turned it down, there’s a good chance he never gets anything close to this value again. Trading a young center while his stock is at its peak? That’s a risky move — one that most rebuilding teams are too hesitant to make. But if Peterson is right, this could be a franchise-defining decision.
What did the Hornets Get?
- Dalton Knecht
- Cam Reddish
- A 2031 unprotected first-round pick
- A 2030 first-round pick swap
This might be the biggest asset haul the Hornets have landed in a trade since Glen Rice in 1995, but Williams is no Alonzo Mourning. The downside? Charlotte fans will likely have to wait a while to see the full impact of this decision.
For now, all eyes are on Dalton Knecht. The 23-year-old sharpshooter from Tennessee was reportedly on Charlotte’s radar during the 2024 draft. In fact, he was the betting favorite for the Hornets’ sixth overall pick — before sliding all the way down to 17, where the Lakers scooped him up. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was ecstatic, saying, “In my mind, there is no way a player like this will be available for us to pick on draft night. Across the board, we just couldn’t be happier.”
Turns out, Knecht wasn’t just a throw-in for this deal. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Charlotte was actually the one who initiated trade talks for him. Once the Hornets proposed Mark Williams, a deal came together.
Jacob Rude of Silver Screen and Roll says of Knecht’s rookie season, “Dalton Knecht has had an up-and-down rookie season, initially turning heads with his scoring outbursts and making an early case for Rookie of the Year. However, his defensive struggles have severely limited his playing time — he lacks lateral quickness, ball awareness, and often gets beaten off the dribble or caught ball-watching.”
Knecht might be the immediate return, but the real gem here is the Lakers’ unprotected 2031 first-round pick. Sure, the Luka Dončić trade means the Lakers are in better shape long-term, but we’ve seen these kinds of picks backfire spectacularly for teams betting on their future.
The 2030 first-round swap is a wild card. On paper, Charlotte has a chance to be better than the Lakers by then, with young talent developing and a solid stockpile of draft picks. But let’s be real — assuming the Hornets will surpass the Lakers even in 2030 is bold. Over the past 25 years, Charlotte has finished with a better record than LA only five times.
Goodbye Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić
The Charlotte Hornets wasted no time patching up their gaping hole at center, flipping Cody Martin, Vasilije Micić, and a 2026 second-round pick for Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkić and a 2026 first-round pick.
Charlotte had been linked to Nurkić in earlier discussions involving Nick Richards, but with Mark Williams now out of the picture, the front office circled back to the negotiating table — and walked away with a new starting center and a future first-round pick. That 2026 selection will be the least favorable of Washington, Orlando, and Memphis, meaning it’ll likely land in the early-to-mid 20s. Still, adding a first-rounder, securing a legitimate (albeit imperfect) starting center, and only giving up marginal rotation pieces? That’s a deal you make every time.
What to expect from Jusuf Nurkić?
At 30 years old and 290 pounds, the man they call the “Bosnian Beast” (Eric Collins, get the vocal cords ready) isn’t the force he once was, but he still brings some valuable traits to Charlotte. Unlike Williams, he has the sheer strength to battle inside, though his days as an impactful rim protector are mostly behind him. Defensively, he’ll be one of the weaker starting centers in the NBA, but at least he understands positioning — and, well, that’s something.
Offensively, Nurkić is a fantastic screen-setter and high-IQ passer, making him a solid fit in dribble hand-off actions. Scoring-wise, however, his game is mostly a mix of floaters, hooks, and brute-force interior play. He’s toyed with three-point shooting (career 28.6%), but it’s never been reliable enough to be considered a weapon. Without a go-to offensive skill, Nurkić has struggled with efficiency throughout his career, and that’s unlikely to change in Charlotte.
🐝🐝🟣
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) February 6, 2025
The bigger question might be his mindset. In Phoenix, Nurkić’s joy for the game evaporated. The disconnect with Mike Budenholzer and some teammates was obvious — he was sulking, counting down the days until his escape. Now, he arrives in Charlotte with a choice: embrace a fresh start and play a key role, or view this as a basketball exile to the NBA’s version of a gulag.
Nationally, analysts are applauding the Hornets for their bold, forward-thinking approach, positioning them among the league’s best in draft assets outside of the Oklahoma City Thunder. With a wealth of picks, Charlotte now has the flexibility to either develop future stars or package assets for proven talent, giving them a clearer path to contention than ever before. However, accumulating assets is only half the battle — turning them into success is where the real challenge begins, and it’s one the Hornets have yet to prove they can navigate. For fans weary of watching a rebuilding team, patience will once again be required as Peterson lays the foundation for the future.
Read next:
