Lakers 'dodged a bullet' with rescinded trade

A Lakers source called the 23-year-old Williams the "handpicked" choice of new Laker Luka Doncic, as that blockbuster deal cost Los Angeles their All-NBA big man Anthony Davis. 

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made the deal to give the Lakers a rim protector and lob threat to pair with Doncic, but concerns about Williams that came up in the Lakers' initial physical caused them to scuttle the deal.

One source doesn't believe that's such a bad thing. While the Lakers lack a big man beyond Jaxson Hayes to give Doncic and 40-year-old LeBron James, the price was high — rookie Dalton Knecht, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap. 

"That was a lot," the Lakers team source told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "We kind of dodged a bullet."

It's a blow to the team's playoff hopes this year, but historically, the trade deadline is a sellers' market. In the summer, the same package of Knecht and picks should be able to get an even better player than Williams, and ideally one who hasn't missed two-thirds of his career games with injuries.

The Lakers may be worried about Doncic's ability to become a free agent in 2026, and giving him a competitive team in the interim. This rescinded trade might hurt the Lakers for the next few months, but long-term, they should be an even stronger team next season than they would with Williams on the roster — especially if he was on the bench in street clothes.