Mark Williams Taunts Lakers After Their Playoff Exit: What Could Have Been
The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, as the Minnesota Timberwolves closed out their first-round playoff series in five games, with a standout performance from Rudy Gobert. The Timberwolves center dominated with a career-high 27 points and 24 rebounds, leaving the Lakers to rue their missed opportunity in the postseason.
But amidst the aftermath of the Lakers’ elimination, Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams couldn’t resist sending a pointed message. With the Lakers’ season over, Williams posted a single emoji that spoke volumes, leaving fans to speculate about his satisfaction in watching the team crash out of the playoffs.
Lakers’ Failed Trade for Mark Williams: A Missed Opportunity
The Lakers’ playoff exit might sting a little more when remembering the trade that could have changed their postseason fate. Earlier in the season, Los Angeles was reportedly working on a trade to acquire Mark Williams, with the intention of pairing him with Luka Dončić in a pick-and-roll system similar to the one Dončić thrived in with the Dallas Mavericks. However, the trade was blocked after the deadline, and Williams remained with the Hornets, while the Lakers retained Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish.
In retrospect, that trade rejection has become a sore point for the Lakers, as their center rotation, featuring Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len, failed to step up. Both players struggled during the series, and head coach JJ Redick even mentioned that he didn’t plan to play Hayes in Game 5. The Lakers ended up giving minutes to stretch forward Maxi Kleber, who was making his debut after recovering from a foot injury.
The Consequences of Not Acquiring a Reliable Big Man
Without Williams, the Lakers were severely lacking in size and interior presence. The Timberwolves exploited this mismatch, particularly in Game 5, where 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert dominated the paint. Gobert’s 27 points, 24 rebounds, and nine offensive boards highlighted the Lakers’ glaring weakness in the middle. Their tallest player on the court for most of the game was 6-foot-8, making it nearly impossible to contain Gobert’s dominant performance.
Though Williams is not known for being a defensive powerhouse, the Lakers’ failure to secure him now stands as a glaring mistake. With their playoff hopes dashed, it’s hard not to imagine how different the series might have been with a reliable big man like Williams on the roster.
A Season of Regrets for the Lakers, But a Bright Future for the Hornets
While the Lakers can at least say they made the playoffs, their first-round exit has many questioning their decisions. Meanwhile, Mark Williams and his Hornets, who finished with a disappointing 19-63 record this season, can take solace in the fact that they have a young, promising center in Williams, even if the Lakers could have used him badly this postseason.
