NBA Trade News: Lakers and Hornets Mark Williams Saga Takes Surprising New Turn

Days after the Los Angeles Lakers unexpectedly rescinded the Mark Williams trade with the Charlotte Hornets, it appears that the Hornets are attempting to reverse the transaction. That may seem like a long shot given that the trade deadline passed on February 6th, but it is not impossible.

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Lakers and Hornets Could Eventually Make Peace

The rationale for this is that the Lakers and Hornets would not be making a new deal with Williams, but rather reversing the previous one. The point of disagreement was that the Lakers failed Williams following his physical, allowing them to cancel the trade. 

However, the Hornets claim that they provided the Lakers with all essential facts and that they failed him for reasons other than health. One possible explanation was that they were displeased with the terms of the trade.

That seems unlikely from the Lakers' perspective. After all, they sorely needed Williams, who was identified as a trade target by Luka Doncic. If the Lakers spotted something in Williams' physical, they apparently thought it was serious enough to rescind the contract. 

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Lakers in the meanwhile signed Alex Len

Following the failed transfer attempt, the Lakers found a temporary solution to mitigate the situation. On Tuesday, the Lakers reached an agreement to sign veteran Center Alex Len from the Sacramento Kings, while waiving Christian Wood, who has remained injured throughout the season.

Len was all set to sign with the Indiana Pacers, but the Center could not let go of the opportunity to sign with the Lakers. Having entered the NBA spectrum in 2013, Len has had short stints with several NBA teams. During this period, he has contributed to varying roles. Now, with the Lakers aiming to further solidify their squad and base the team around Luka Doncic, Len fills the void of a substitute center in the team.

Having played for five different teams, Len showcases fair stats. He has been averaging 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0/9 blocks per game. His most notable seasons came with the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks from 2013-2020.