Suns’ Mark Williams wants to show Hornets they were wrong to trade him
Phoenix Suns’ Mark Williams wants to prove why his former team, the Charlotte Hornets, should regret trading him.
Diannie Chavez and Diana Payan/The Republic
LOS ANGELES – Phoenix Suns big man Mark Williams has put that rescinded trade to the Los Angeles Lakers before last season’s deadline in the rearview, but admitted he would have a “little extra” for the Dec. 1 game at Crypto.com Arena.
“It’s always a little extra, but I think we’re just focused on getting wins,” Williams said after Monday’s morning shootaround at UCLA. “It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing.”
Williams is back after being ruled out of Saturday’s home loss to Denver with a sore right calf in what was the second of a back-to-back.
Playing just 106 games total with the Charlotte Hornets in his first three NBA seasons, Williams has sat out every second game of a back-to-back so far in his first season with the Suns (12-9), but has always returned the following game.
“Got some treatment on it,” said Williams, who is averaging 12.9 points and 9.2 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game (17 games, 14 starts) this season. “I’m good.”
The Suns are 1-3 in the second of a back-to-back without Williams, with two of the losses coming against Denver (14-5) and one against Houston (13-4).
The lone win came against Indiana (4-16).
Williams is back available for Monday’s game against the Lakers (15-4), who said he failed the team physical and rescinded the trade. The Hornets were getting then-rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick from the Lakers for Williams.
When asked if he ever got any clarity on the matter, Williams said, “Not in real detail. I’m kind of past it now. Just moved on from it.”
Williams has already played against the Lakers since the nixed trade, posting 10 points and nine rebounds in a 100-97 Charlotte win Feb. 19 in Los Angeles.
In the offseason, Phoenix traded two first-round picks to land Williams from the Hornets.
The Lakers are 15-4 to start this season, winning their last seven games.
“They’re playing well right now,” Williams said. “I think taking care of the ball. They’ve got some high-level scorers in (Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves). Keeping them off the free-throw line, I think, will really be huge. Staying disciplined. Forcing them into tough twos and playing our own game. Win the possession game, rebound the ball, playing with pace.”
The Suns begin the first of four road games with the Lakers, followed by matchups at Houston (13-4), Minnesota (12-8) and defending NBA champion Oklahoma City (20-1) in the NBA Cup quarterfinals Dec. 10.
“We have some days in between games, finally,” Williams said. “All of our opponents are tough. It’s a tough stretch, but I think starting off the right note with the first one will be the biggest thing.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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