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Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams was supposed to be the final piece of the Los Angeles Lakers puzzle at the 2025 NBA trade deadline until his move to Hollywood was unexpectedly rescinded with no time to find a replacement.
After sending All-Star center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade, Lakers coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka had Williams pinned as the player who could fill the Davis-sized hole in the frontcourt.
Doncic wanted a lob threat on offense, and size would be crucial on defense come playoff time in a Western Conference loaded with the likes of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
It was Gobert who ended the Lakers' season with a historic performance on Wednesday night, leaving Williams to stir the pot from home on social media.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (left) and Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (right).Gary A. Vasquez, Nell Redmond-Imagn Images
Los Angeles dropped its series to Minnesota 4-1 in the first round, sealed by Gobert's 27-point, 24-rebound performance in the 103-96 closeout win in Game 5.
Redick faced plenty of questions from fans about his refusal to play 7-foot center Jaxson Hayes while Gobert dominated the paint, but the coach said he felt like he had no good options.
Williams, who finished the season with the 19-63 Hornets, did not need any words to troll the Lakers across multiple social media platforms in the immediate aftermath of the stinging defeat.
The single smiling emoji he posted on X received more than 1.5 million views, 30,000 likes and 2,000 comments in the first hour after the Lakers' loss.
Meanwhile, on his Instagram story, he posted a classic meme that references attending the funeral of one's biggest hater.
It is hard to explain the Lakers being against him when they wanted him in the trade, which only fell through because Williams could not pass a medical examination.
We will never know if he could have stopped Gobert in the playoffs, but one thing that is clear is that Williams is still holding onto some feelings about never making it to Los Angeles.
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After sending All-Star center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade, Lakers coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka had Williams pinned as the player who could fill the Davis-sized hole in the frontcourt.
Doncic wanted a lob threat on offense, and size would be crucial on defense come playoff time in a Western Conference loaded with the likes of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
It was Gobert who ended the Lakers' season with a historic performance on Wednesday night, leaving Williams to stir the pot from home on social media.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (left) and Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (right).Gary A. Vasquez, Nell Redmond-Imagn Images
Los Angeles dropped its series to Minnesota 4-1 in the first round, sealed by Gobert's 27-point, 24-rebound performance in the 103-96 closeout win in Game 5.
Redick faced plenty of questions from fans about his refusal to play 7-foot center Jaxson Hayes while Gobert dominated the paint, but the coach said he felt like he had no good options.
Williams, who finished the season with the 19-63 Hornets, did not need any words to troll the Lakers across multiple social media platforms in the immediate aftermath of the stinging defeat.
The single smiling emoji he posted on X received more than 1.5 million views, 30,000 likes and 2,000 comments in the first hour after the Lakers' loss.
Meanwhile, on his Instagram story, he posted a classic meme that references attending the funeral of one's biggest hater.
It is hard to explain the Lakers being against him when they wanted him in the trade, which only fell through because Williams could not pass a medical examination.
We will never know if he could have stopped Gobert in the playoffs, but one thing that is clear is that Williams is still holding onto some feelings about never making it to Los Angeles.
Related: Dwight Howard's Six-Word Message After Rescinded Lakers Trade
Related: Steve Kerr Sends Clear Message Amid Serious Steph Curry Accusation
Related: Steve Kerr Sends Clear Message Amid Serious Steph Curry Accusation
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