In one of the most shocking trade deadline moves in Charlotte Hornets history, Jeff Peterson has sent starting center Mark Williams to join LeBron James, Luka Dončic, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Williams is less than a month removed from playing the best stretch of basketball of his young career.

The Lakers snagged their much-coveted center, agreeing to a deal for 7-footer Mark Williams of the Hornets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Lakers send rookie Dalton Knecht, veteran Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round draft pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap to Charlotte in a deal that helps replace some of what they