Report: Lakers backed out of Mark Williams trade because they ‘couldn’t live with what they saw’

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers backed out of the Mark Williams trade because they “couldn’t live with what they saw.”

Williams failed his physical with the Lakers and returned to the Charlotte Hornets. Luka Doncic told Rob Pelinka that he wanted to play with Williams, which is why LA traded for the big man. 

“Williams was Doncic’s preferred lob partner out of a list of potential trade targets and told the team so, sources said, after Doncic had been so effective with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford in Dallas,” McMenamin wrote. “The deal was agreed upon the night before the trade deadline, a buzzer-beater by the Lakers’ front office after already successfully negotiating the Doncic deal and the acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets in late December.

“Only Williams never suited up for L.A. He failed the team’s physical examination, and the Lakers ‘just couldn’t live with what they saw,’ a source with knowledge of the subject told ESPN.”

The Lakers started Jaxson Hayes at center after trading Anthony Davis. Hayes was benched in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who beat Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs in five games. 

In Game 5, the Lakers were outrebounded 54-37, including 18-8 on the offensive glass.

Pelinka told local reporters on Thursday that he will attempt to acquire a center this summer. 

“We know this offseason, one of our primary goals is going to be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position,” Pelinka said. “This roster needs more size and needs a center. That’s a very clear and obvious by-product of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard. Of course, that’s going to open up a huge hole.

“The trade deadline and the moments up to it don’t allow you the requisite time to explore every single unturned stone to add a big to our roster. We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade. But now we do.”