Hornets trade Mark Williams to Suns for No. 29 pick, future first-rounder

Roderick Boone, The Charlotte Observer on Jun 25, 2025

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mark Williams is headed west again, except this time he’s bound for the desert.

The Charlotte Hornets traded the center to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night in exchange for the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NBA draft and a 2029 first-round pick, league sources confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.

The move comes four months after the original deal sending Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton Knecht and draft compensation was rescinded due to a failed physical. Williams returned to the Hornets following the All-Star break, and both parties said the right things publicly.

However, it was difficult to see Williams hanging around much longer.

Williams got off to a slow start in 2024-25 thanks to a foot injury prior to training camp.

The back issues that caused him to miss the bulk of the 2023-24 season weren’t a problem, but he’s fought injuries throughout his three seasons as a pro, limiting him to just 108 games.

Williams is scheduled to earn $6.2 million in the final season of a four-year, $18 million deal.