Charlotte Hornets trade Mark Williams to Phoenix Suns during 2025 NBA Draft

The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 29 pick in Wednesday night’s 2025 NBA Draft, as well a 2029 first-round pick, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Phoenix spent their first round loading up on their front court, selecting Khaman Maluach 10th overall via the Houston Rockets stemming from the Kevin Durant trade over the weekend. The Hornets now move back into the first round after selecting Maluach’s college teammate, Kon Knueppel from Duke.

As a part of the deal, Charlotte is also acquiring Vasilije Micic, whose $8.1 million team option will be exercised by the Suns. Micic arrived in Phoenix in February as a part of the Jusuf Nurkic trade. It’s Micic’s second stint with the team after beginning last season with the organization.

This isn’t the first time that the Hornets have attempted to deal Williams since drafting him 15th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. In February, Charlotte attempted to trade Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for guard Dalton Knecht, forward Cam Reddish, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Hornets. However, the trade would not go through and Williams returned to Charlotte for the remainder of the season.

“Mark Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam, sources tell ESPN,” Charania said at the time, via X. “The physical was not failed due to his back, however.”

Charania later appeared live on ESPN to further explain the situation during halftime of Saturday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. He elaborated on the unique situation.

“Sources tell me that the Lakers have failed Mark Williams on his physical exam,” he said. “I’m told they found multiple issues in that exam and it’s about the extent of the injury of what they got and what they found in that exam. Clearly, they found some issues and people have talked about his back being an issue. I’m told that is not the reason of the failed physical. So, they found a couple of other issues in the physical exam that they did not expect.”

During the 2024-25 season, Williams averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He played 44 total games during his third season in the NBA — the most of his career so far.