Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Hornets Make New Announcement on Roster After Rescinded Lakers Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Feb 12, 2025 11:00 AM ET

It was a bizarre weekend for a Charlotte Hornets team that does not typically attract much attention. But after the team agreed to what appeared to be a very favorable deal with the Lakers for center Mark Williams, things unraveled quickly.

Originally, the Hornets sent Williams, who is averaging 15.6 points with 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots, to the Lakers for a package of 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht plus the Lakers' 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap. While Williams is no doubt a good fit for a Lakers team badly in need of size, this was a massive overpay for L.A. for a run-of-the-mill starter.

When the Lakers rescinded the trade over problems with Williams' physical, it had the appearance of a team that simply realized they'd given up too much and wanted to backtrack.

And according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Hornets are in contact with the league about challenging the rescinding of the trade.

He wrote on Twitter/X: "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, sources tell ESPN. The Williams/Dalton Knecht trade was nixed Saturday, and now Hornets weigh avenues to challenge."

In the meantime, though, life goes on for the Lakers and the Hornets, as the league figures out how to mediate this dispute. The Hornets, no longer with Knecht on hand, had to add another guard and did so this week.

The team announced the move on Wednesday morning, adding Damion Baugh on a two-way deal.

OFFICIAL: We have signed guard Damion Baugh to a two-way contract.

Read more: https://t.co/JdNqPLqSI0 pic.twitter.com/gGFh4zdWQn
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) February 12, 2025

Baugh, out of TCU, had been with the Lakers as an Exhibit 10 player in the 2023 offseason. He was with the Knicks last summer, and was playing for the team's Westchester G League affiliate.

He averaged 12.6 points, 9.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds in Westchester this year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: