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NBA Trade Deadline: Dalton Knecht, Mark Williams headline latest blockbuster swap

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•about 15 hours•

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F Dalton Knecht, C Mark Williams (2025 NBA Trade Deadline)
Darren Yamashita & Scott Kinser | Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers were involved in yet another major move last night ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday.

On Wednesday night, the Lakers dealt Dalton Knecht along with Cam Reddish and two picks, one first-round selection as well as a swap, to the Charlotte Hornets. In return, LA received Mark Williams. That’s all per ESPN’s Shams Charania.


Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Tennessee, is the biggest name in this deal in the middle of his rookie season in the association. He had averaged 9.4 points (46.5% FG, 35.8% 3PT) and 3.1 rebounds in his 48 games, including a dozen starts, for Los Angeles. Those were the early returns on a player that many felt was the steal of this year’s draft class after he fell to No. 17 for the selection by LA.

Now, the Hornets have yet another promising prospect to add to their already young core with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

Williams is then in his third year as a pro out of Duke with him having spent all of those in Charlotte. He had become the Hornets’ starting center when available as he posted 11.6 points (62.1% FG), 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in his 85 games. He was currently having a career-best year too at 15.6 points (58.6% FG), 9.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.

With that, the Lakers add a center in Williams to try and replace the presence of Anthony Davis following this weekend’s mega-deal that sent him to Dallas in exchange for Luka Dončić.

Reddish, also a Blue Devil alum, is also notable as the only other player in the trade as he heads to his fifth franchise in his sixth season in the NBA. He now leaves Los Angeles averaging the fewest points per game of his career at 3.3 in 18.1 minutes an appearance.

There should be plenty more moves to come if this week has been any indication around the NBA. That includes both of these teams, with the Lakers being very active, ahead of the deadline this afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.