Mark Williams finally said the quiet part out loud, the part most players swallow when business turns personal.
On the Old Man and the Three podcast, the big man addressed the trade that would’ve sent him from Charlotte to the Los Angeles Lakers at last season’s deadline, only for it to be rescinded days later. His reaction, delivered without polish, sounded like a player who still hasn’t made peace with how quickly the ground shifted under him.
“Honestly, like f—k y’all,” Williams said,
describing the emotions that came with believing he was heading to the league’s most spotlighted franchise, then being told the deal was off.
The trade itself was real, and so was how abruptly it ended. In February 2025, the Lakers and Hornets agreed to a deal for Williams, but the Lakers later rescinded it. The league’s official write-up noted the trade was scrapped “due to failure to satisfy a condition of the trade,” language that typically points to medical review and paperwork conditions.
Reports then revealed the trade was canceled after Williams failed his physical and that the exam revealed multiple medical issues; the reported package included Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a future pick swap, and a future first-round pick headed to Charlotte in the original agreement.
Williams’ frustration now is less about the transaction itself, trades happen, and more about the whiplash: being mentally moved, emotionally invested, and publicly attached to a new situation, only to be pulled back at the last moment. As recapped by multiple outlets, Williams said he was excited about the opportunity and then stunned when he learned it had fallen through.
The NBA likes to call it “a business.” Players do, too… right up until the business leaves a scar. And with one blunt sentence, Williams made it clear: this one still does.
