Rob Pelinka pulled off a generational move with Luka Doncic. But fate wasn’t as kind the second time. His vision of bringing Mark Williams to LA vanished in an instant as a failed physical crushed the deal. Yet, Williams hasn’t returned to Charlotte. Now, confusion lingers, and concerns are growing. The NBA enthusiasts question whether the trade medical process needs a serious fix.

Meanwhile, Dalton Knecht has returned to the floor after the Lakers failed to trade him for Mark Williams. It seems like he’s back in style to play for Rob Pelinka, while Williams has yet to process what went wrong. Moreover, Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer reported that the 23-year-old star has yet to make a comeback to the Hornets squad.

“Unlike Knecht, who saw action Wednesday night against the Jazz in Utah after not playing on Monday despite being active for Luke Doncic’s Los Angeles debut, Williams remained away, undoubtedly to give the 7-footer more time to mentally process the whirlwind,” Boone wrote.

Amid the trade chaos, the Hornets have turned to the NBA, searching for answers—and possibly a way forward. Moreover, there is no denying that Rob Pelinka missed a great chance of pairing Luka Doncic with someone like Mark Williams. He’s a rim protector, averaging 15.6 ppg, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 23 games this season.

Meanwhile, Adam Silver can’t recall a trade protest over a failed physical after a deal collapsed. That alone raises eyebrows. He pointed to the gray area in medical evaluations, hinting at a deeper issue. Is the system too subjective? Too flawed? The NBA might have a bigger problem on its hands.

Rob Pelinka’s heartbreak might have highlighted the NBA’s big glitch in the matrix

At his 2025 NBA All-Star press conference, Adam Silver set the record straight. Despite the swirling drama, the Charlotte Hornets had taken no formal action. “Charlotte has not filed a protest of any kind,” he confirmed. But with tensions rising, how long will that last?

However, further addressing Rob Pelinka’s heartbreak with the odd failed physical, the Commissioner had a lot to talk about. “I can’t even remember, and certainly, I don’t think in my tenure a trade has ever—there’s never been a challenge because a player has failed a physical, but almost by definition, you get into a certain level of subjectivity in where that standard is,” Silver said. Thus, recognizing medical advancements, Silver suggested that the NBA could reassess its standards for trade physicals.

“We’ll look at it,” the Commissioner remarked. “I’d say it’s one of those areas when it comes to the health and well-being of our players, medical science, there have been incredible developments, and this is a rule sort of as interpreted now, hasn’t changed for many decades at the league office.”

Amidst the heartbreak, the show must go on. Especially now, as the NBA All-Star Weekend is in action, all focus has shifted to San Francisco. However, the underlying troubles, secrets, and all the other mysterious things of the NBA loom at large. And maybe, Rob Pelinka’s failed trade with Mark Williams to have in the Lakers is one of the chapters.