Imagine you’ve discovered a young talent, someone with the potential to propel your team into the future. You start to feel a sense of hope and excitement building—only for that player to be traded away before they even have a chance to make their mark. It’s like discovering a hidden gem in your collection, only for someone else to come in with understanding of the value and snatch it up before you fully realize its worth.
That’s the situation the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves in when they traded their first-round pick, Dalton Knecht, to the Charlotte Hornets. According to reports, the Lakers are sending Knecht, along with Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap to the Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams.
Knecht, selected 17th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, didn’t even make it through his rookie season with the Lakers. The former Tennessee Volunteer played 19 games with Los Angeles, averaging just under 10 points per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. Though those numbers were solid, it wasn’t enough to secure his future with the Lakers.
In exchange, the Lakers are bringing in Williams, a promising 23-year-old center from Duke. Williams has shown strong potential in his brief time with the Hornets, averaging 16 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game in just 22 appearances this season, while shooting a stable 59.5% from the field. While the numbers look good on paper, Williams’ career has been marred by injuries. In his rookie season, he dealt with ankle sprains and a thumb injury that required surgery. Last year, he missed additional time due to a lower back contusion, leaving questions about his long-term durability.
This trade comes on the heels of the Lakers’ blockbuster acquisition of superstar Luka Dončić. With Dončić now in Los Angeles, Williams is expected to fill the void left by Anthony Davis, who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a massive deal that also sent Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to Dallas in exchange for Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris.
The Lakers’ decision to part ways with Knecht and move forward with Williams signals a shift in their long-term strategy, even as they make moves to chase immediate success with Dončić. The question now is whether Williams’ upside will be enough to justify the risks of his injury history. For the Lakers, only time will tell if this trade proves to be the right one for their future.
What It Means For Charlotte
The Charlotte Hornets are in a prime position to turn their franchise around, thanks to a substantial treasure trove of draft picks they own over the next several years. If Hornets GM Jeff Peterson manages this correctly, these assets could play a pivotal role in reshaping the team’s future.
Looking ahead, Charlotte controls multiple first and second-round picks across the next six drafts, with some of the most noteworthy selections being:
- 2025: Own 1st and 2nd round picks (along with unprotected picks via Philadelphia and New Orleans)
- 2026: Own 1st and 2nd round picks (plus a 2nd from Denver)
- 2027: Own 1st round picks (including one via Miami and one via Dallas), and several valuable 2nd round picks
- 2028: Own 1st and 2nd round picks (plus selections from Portland/New Orleans and Phoenix)
- 2029: Own 1st and 2nd round picks
- 2030-2031: Multiple 1st and 2nd round picks (including swaps with Los Angeles and Phoenix)
This collection of draft capital, accumulated through trades involving key players like PJ Washington, Terry Rozier, Nick Richards, and Mark Williams, places the Hornets in an enviable position. With the ability to target top prospects in future drafts or use these picks as assets in trades, the Hornets could accelerate their rebuild and possibly bring in the caliber of talent needed to make a significant leap in the Eastern Conference.
In particular, the Hornets’ collection of first-round picks and a few unprotected second-rounders offers the flexibility to either target immediate talent or package multiple picks to land a star player through trade. It’s a pivotal moment for Charlotte’s front office, as the right moves could help the franchise finally escape its rebuilding phase and compete for playoff spots in the near future.