“You went from shocked to excited, back to shocked.” That’s how Mark Williams described his mental rollercoaster amid the failed Lakers trade. Since the LA franchise pulled the plug on the trade involving the Hornets big man and rookie Dalton Knecht, the situation was further complicated with the two sides trading blames. But now with Williams back with the Hornets, the chapter can be closed permanently. The argument provided by the Lakers about the big man’s injury was thoroughly refuted by the Charlotte team. And now that gains traction as Williams’ agent going public over the drama.

Anthony Davis’ departure created a significant void in the Lakers’ lineup, leaving them in urgent need of a center. Investing in a young player seemed like a fair move for GM Rob Pelinka, which is where Mark Williams entered the picture. But before the 7-footer could fully relish the excitement of being a Laker, it was taken away due to the franchise’s assessment. So, he was sent back to the Hornets, with Dalton making his way to the Purple and Gold again. But were the Lakers too hasty in their decision with Williams? At least, his agent Jeff Schwartz believes so.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the agent, in an official statement to Excel Sports Management, mentioned, “The overwhelming sentiment, after conferring with multiple, nationally recognized doctors, is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical.” Schwartz further added, “Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been given that opportunity.”

Following last night’s game between the Lakers and the Hornets, it certainly looked like the LA side missed out on a big opportunity. As the game went 100-97 for Charlotte, Williams stood strong, finishing with a nearly double-double stat line of 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. The 23-year-old finally had the last laugh. However, that didn’t seem to have affected LeBron James.

Mark Williams displayed his rage while LeBron James seemed unaffected

When the final buzzer sounded, Williams threw his arms in the air, visibly expressing relief. It seemed like his response to how the LA side had treated him. The moment was captured on camera and quickly went viral. Williams himself shared it on his Instagram story, showcasing the lingering rage he still felt.

Whereas, in the postgame locker room interview, when LeBron James was asked about playing against Mark Williams after all that had transpired, the 4-time champion said, “He was never a teammate. He never stepped into the locker room. We never we never came, and we never seen him. You know, we know the trade went down, but we never seen him. So, when the guy rescinded just was back to back to what it was before. So, it was no different.” That reaction was certainly a bit cold coming from LeBron.

But even Williams didn’t hesitate to stand his ground. He shared his agent’s statement, making it clear that he won’t easily move on from the complicated situation with the Lakers. So, this is far from the end. Whose side are you on, the Lakers or the Hornets’ star? Let us know in the comments below!