Mark Williams is on the move — again.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are sending the center to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 29 pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft and a 2029 first-round pick.
The Suns made the deal on the same night that they selected 18-year-old Duke Center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick in the draft acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade. Within a matter of minutes, the Suns added a pair of young Duke centers to their roster.
The deal marks the second time the Hornets have tried to trade Williams. They thought they sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers before the trade deadline in exchange for a package that featured Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick.
But the Lakers rejected the deal after they said Williams failed a physical, and the trade fell through. Now Williams is headed to Phoenix to join a Suns team rebuilding in the aftermath of the Durant trade.
The Hornets will now have a second first-round pick in Wednesday’s draft after selecting Duke’s Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick. And they’ll add a future first-round pick down the road.
Williams, 23, is a two-way center entering his fourth season in the NBA. He averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game last season while shooting 60.4% from the field.
He’s attempted just four 3-point shots in his career and is not a threat to stretch the floor. He’s frequently injured and has yet to play more than 44 games in a season. When healthy, he’ll provide the Suns with a 7-foot rim protector and a capable finisher in the post.
The trade clears the path for Jusuf Nurkic to start in Charlotte. The Hornets acquired Nurkic from the Suns last season after they thought they had traded Williams to the Lakers. Williams will help fill the void in Phoenix left behind by Nurkic’s departure.
Mark Williams is on the move — again.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are sending the center to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 29 pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft and a 2029 first-round pick.
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The Suns made the deal on the same night that they selected 18-year-old Duke Center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick in the draft acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade. Within a matter of minutes, the Suns added a pair of young Duke centers to their roster.
The deal marks the second time the Hornets have tried to trade Williams. They thought they sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers before the trade deadline in exchange for a package that featured Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick.
But the Lakers rejected the deal after they said Williams failed a physical, and the trade fell through. Now Williams is headed to Phoenix to join a Suns team rebuilding in the aftermath of the Durant trade.
The Hornets will now have a second first-round pick in Wednesday’s draft after selecting Duke’s Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick. And they’ll add a future first-round pick down the road.
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Williams, 23, is a two-way center entering his fourth season in the NBA. He averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game last season while shooting 60.4% from the field.
He’s attempted just four 3-point shots in his career and is not a threat to stretch the floor. He’s frequently injured and has yet to play more than 44 games in a season. When healthy, he’ll provide the Suns with a 7-foot rim protector and a capable finisher in the post.
The trade clears the path for Jusuf Nurkic to start in Charlotte. The Hornets acquired Nurkic from the Suns last season after they thought they had traded Williams to the Lakers. Williams will help fill the void in Phoenix left behind by Nurkic’s departure.
