Mark Williams was a Laker for, guess what, three days. After adding Luka Doncic to their roster, the franchise was eager to bolster their new star with familiar surroundings: Just as he thrived at the Mavs with big players in the middle. In practice, that meant the Lakers hoping to trade for the Hornets’ big man, the 7-footer, Williams. However, the trade was rescinded. 23-year-old rookie Dalton Knecht isn’t going anywhere after all.

On Saturday, the Lakers revealed the trade which would have sent Knecht and Cam Reddish to the Hornets was called off after Williams reportedly failed his physical with the Lakers. It was a costly trade for the Lakers which involved the Tennessee basketball product along with two other players and three future draft picks for Williams. Shedding light on the update, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, “Mark Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam. The physical was not failed due to his back, however.”

Imagine going back to the same office that was ready to substitute you for someone they believed was a better fit just a few days prior! Now, with the deal canceled, you’re no less than a lame duck having to walk back to your old corner. Sheesh! Knecht was present during the pre-game shootaround but personally requested the HC to not play him against the Jazz. Before the game, coach JJ Redick acknowledged how difficult the situation was for the young rookie.

“I spoke with him this morning. I expressed to him the empathy and grace that I will give him and have for him right now. He has, obviously, been through a whirlwind of emotion as a rookie over the last few days. We believe in the strength of the group and having him around today. … He is, obviously, processing everything that has happened,” Redick said.

Knecht had quickly become a Lakers fan favorite. He has had a solid showing after being picked No.17 by the Lakers in the 2024 Draft, averaging 9.4 points in his first 48 games. The rookie put up a stunning 37-point performance against the Jazz hitting a record-tying nine 3-pointers in November, but has seen less game time in the new year.

Hence, a move to the Hornets, while a little surprising, presented Knecht with a chance to start fresh and be with a team that wanted him. In Knecht, Charlotte would have found a perimeter-focused player to the backcourt. More than half of his shot attempts are 3-pointers, which would’ve fit well with the talented duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on the wing. Even if he was not going to be a guaranteed starter, he would’ve been a strong option from the bench when the bigger names needed a rest. But as it turns out, Knecht will still be in LA for the foreseeable future. So what’s next for him? Can he fit with Doncic in the new-look Lakers?

With Mark Williams in the center, the Lakers looked to give Doncic a perfect platform to lob his passes and turn defenses inside out. He did it efficiently in Dallas throwing up lobs to Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford on the way to the NBA Finals last season. With Williams in the center, JJ Redick had hoped to build the team around Doncic’s ability and help him excel. But for now, that remains a distant dream.

As for Knecht, his prolific shooting ability could tie in well with Doncic. He’s already seen some success alongside LeBron James and Doncic’s style should also help him get more points. At Mavs, Doncic was able to utilize shooters and wing defenders to a good extent, and with Knecht falling into the former category, he should do good.

With James or Doncic or even both on the court, Knecht will have enough space to operate as a shooter and ancillary scorer. But for now, he’s got to lock back in and find his rhythm again as he deals with the aftermath of the trade. Because whether he likes it or not, he’s still a Laker—for now. But the Hornets are not letting go of the issue.

NBA steps in amid Dalton Knecht trade controversy

But while Knecht was processing all of this, the NBA itself got dragged into the mess. According to Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are not happy and have reached out to the league office to challenge the Lakers’ failed physical assessment of Mark Williams. “The Charlotte Hornets have been in contact with the NBA as they explore options to dispute the Los Angeles Lakers’ failed physical assessment of Mark Williams,” Charania reported.

Basically, this deal was supposed to be a win-win. The Lakers wanted a lob-catching big to pair with Luka Doncic, while the Hornets were getting Knecht, Cam Reddish, and some draft picks. Simple enough, right? Well, not quite. Reports say they flagged multiple issues—but oddly not his back, which was supposedly the biggest concern.

Charlotte, meanwhile, isn’t buying it. Before everything collapsed, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was completely confident in Williams’ health. “We fully vetted his health stuff… we’re not concerned about those.” But after the physical? Suddenly, they were concerned. So now, the Hornets are fighting back, and the NBA is getting involved. Which means this whole thing might not be over yet.

For Knecht, though, it’s already been a rough ride. He went from thinking he was gone, to staying put, to wondering what this all meant for his future. The trade might have technically been about Mark Williams, but Knecht was the one who got emotionally blindsided.

Now, he’s got to shake it off and get back on the court, with his return expected Wednesday. But with the Hornets pushing for a review, this saga is far from over. One thing’s for sure—trades aren’t just about contracts and roster moves. The human side is always the toughest part.