Charlotte Hornets star Mark Williams has found a new home at the Phoenix Sands, the Western Conference.
The Phoenix Suns sent two first-round draft picks to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Mark Williams.
Williams, 23, made headlines about the NBA trade deadline for his move to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the Lakers cancelled the trade and sent Williams back to the Hornets.
Since then, there has been a certain hostility between the two, as evident from Williams’ reaction to the Lakers’ early exit from the 2025 NBA playoffs.
The Suns have abandoned their 29th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and their first round pick in 2029 in exchange for Williams’ services.
On paper, the trade seems fair as Williams is only 23 years old, but Lakernation believes the Sun is making a huge overpayment for the former Hornets Center.
“The Lakers almost escaped,” fans wrote. Another was added, but “We dodged the bullet.”
“The Lakers knew Mark wasn’t worth those first rounds,” a third fan wrote.
“The whole Lakers blunder was a very bad PR for Mark Williams and the Hornets,” another fan squealed.
“Damaged Item. Good Luck,” the fifth fan added.
For context, the Lakers provided Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, 2030 draft picks and Williams’ first round picks.
However, the offer was rescinded after Williams physically failed with the organization. In hindsight, the Lakers actually overpayed for the 23-year-old.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith had said a lot after the Suns made the move for Williams. It’s safe to say that the veteran broadcaster was not satisfied with the deal.
“What exactly is the Phoenix Suns doing, who gave up on Mark Williams’ first round pick in 2029?
“This is the same guy that the Lakers were trying to get what they thought was physically a failure,” Smith said in ESPN’s 2025 NBA Draft Coverage.
He added: “We don’t know all the details about it, but here’s the bottom line. If you were the Phoenix Suns, one of the reasons you signed a deal to get Kevin Durant moving was to acquire assets.
“You’re trying to hold them. Why are you handing them over for Mark Williams? Four years from now! Why?”
Certainly Kevin Durant’s trade with the Houston Rockets helped the Suns regain some assets. But they have already parted ways with Williams’ future draft picks.
Especially when there is a large cloud of doubt that his fitness is floating above Williams’ head.