The Lakers made (presumably) their final big splash ahead of the trade deadline on Wednesday night, landing center Mark Williams from the Hornets.
The third-year big man has had a career of ups and downs. Injuries have limited his availability on the court but, once he puts on a jersey, he has shown really bright flashes of play.
But even as someone who once covered the team, I, like many other Lakers fans, have not watched a tremendous amount of Hornets basketball this season. So, to get more of an insider’s take on Williams, we reached out to someone who has.
To better understand the player the Lakers just traded for, we talked to James Plowright, longtime Hornets beat writer who currently writes for CLTure and hosts the Charlotte Hornets on SI Podcast.
Below is our Q&A.
What should Lakers fans expect to see from Mark Williams?
Standing at 7’1” with a towering 9’9” standing reach — the longest in the NBA and two inches ahead of Victor Wembanyama — Mark Williams is an imposing presence. He profiles as an offensively inclined rim-runner with a relentless rebounding motor but struggles with individual paint defense and weakside rotations.
Williams excelled as a pick-and-roll dive man alongside LaMelo Ball, though injuries often kept them off the court together. His fit with LeBron James and Luka Dončić, however, looks ideal on paper. When Rob Pelinka described the center market as “dry” during Luka’s press conference, I remember thinking, “Mark Williams would be perfect for Luka — but that would never happen.” Well, I was wrong, but also kind of right.
What are his strengths and weaknesses at this stage of his career?
Strengths
Williams possesses excellent hands and uses his length and athleticism to finish lobs at jaw-dropping angles. He’s a tenacious rebounder on both ends, creating second-chance opportunities for himself and teammates. This season, he’s improved as a short-roll decision-maker when defenses blitzed Ball, tripling his assist percentage (84th percentile for centers).
He has solid touch on floaters, is a good free-throw shooter and showcases crafty footwork to find finishing angles. While he’s flashed the ability to defend on the perimeter — look up his game-saving block on Trae Young — his consistency in this area remains questionable.
Weaknesses
Despite his size, Williams isn’t the defensive anchor one might expect. His lack of strength, high hips and poor defensive anticipation leave him vulnerable, often allowing smaller guards like Corey Kispert and Coby White to finish through him. He’s been exploited by bigger opponents as well — Daniel Gafford dropped a career-high 31 points on him, while Anthony Davis torched him for 42. These defensive struggles frequently land Williams in foul trouble, forcing him into less demanding assignments.
Injuries have also hindered his development, limiting him to just 84 games in two-and-a-half seasons. He’s suffered torn thumb ligaments, a lower back issue and a foot sprain, with extended absences suggesting a slow recovery process. While he’s shown dominant flashes in quarters or halves, sustaining that impact across full games remains a challenge.
Is there anything else you think people should know about him, on or off the court?
Despite his towering frame, Williams is soft-spoken and reserved. As a young player in Charlotte, he struggled to find his voice, which can be a concern for a center responsible for organizing the backline of a defense.
Again, a big thanks to Plowright for his insight into Williams. For more Hornets thoughts or to keep up with Dalton Knecht in the future, you can follow him on Twitter at @British_Buzz.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
