The Lakers had initially acquired Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets on February 5, sending Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and draft picks in return.

Mark Williams (Photo by Sam Sharpe/Imagn Images)
However, just two days later, the Lakers unexpectedly pulled out of the deal, citing Williams’ failed physical as the reason.

The unexpected trade saga shocked and confused Williams, though he initially chose to remain silent. Now, weeks later, Williams has finally addressed the situation during an interview, expressing his disbelief at the Lakers’ decision.

“My agent told me. I didn’t think I had failed my physical. That didn’t even cross my mind. The night I got traded I played hella minutes. I didn’t think in any world that was possible. Since I’ve been back since the start of the year, I’ve played games with a lot of minutes,” Williams said.

“I feel like every injury I’ve had has been well-documented and I’ve recovered and been 100% since. So, I don’t know what went into that decision. I think that’s up to them,” he added.

Williams’ confidence, however, did not shield him from a wave of skepticism from fans. Many questioned his claim, some even accusing him of wanting to be a Laker, citing the failed trade as a blow to his aspirations.

Mark Williams Focused On Silencing Doubters

Mark Williams seems motivated to turn the narrative around. While the Lakers might have walked away questioning his health, Williams is focused on proving his worth, not just to Charlotte, but to the entire league.

“Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me is showing I’m healthy. Like I said, I didn’t think there was a world [where] I’d fail a physical. So, I’m just excited to play,” Williams said.

Williams had appeared in 23 games by the time of the trade saga, averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Ironically, the Hornets faced the Lakers in their first game after the failed trade, and Williams scored ten points in the game.