Both the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are among the teams in either the first or second apron following Thursday's NBA trade deadline, according

However, the present-day Lakers' roster still needed to be refined if the organization was serious about chasing a title in 2025. While the Lakers now had an abundance of scoring power in the James-Doncic duo, the team lacked a notable frontcourt and quality defense.

To get Williams, a former first-round pick, the Lakers sent rookie Dalton Knecht, a 2030 first-round pick swap and their 2031 unprotected first-round pick to the Hornets. The Lakers also included forward Cam Reddish to create a roster spot they could fill on the buyout market.

The Dončić deal positions the Lakers extremely well for the future — especially when a bumper crop of stars might become available.

Mark Williams is heading to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 23-year-old rim-runner was acquired in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick are heading in the opposite direction.