June 30: The trade is official, according to press releases issued by both the Suns and Hornets.
Williams is headed to Phoenix, while Micic, this year’s No. 29 pick (Liam McNeeley), and a 2029 first-round pick (least favorable of Utah, Cleveland and Minnesota) are going to Charlotte.
Rather than the swap of second-rounders (outlined below), the Hornets sent the Suns their own 2029 second-round pick in order to complete the trade.
June 25: Right around the same time they drafted Khaman Maluach, the Suns agreed to acquire another Duke center, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that the Hornets are sending Mark Williams to Phoenix in exchange for 2025’s No. 29 overall pick and a 2029 first-rounder.
Sources tell Charania that the 2029 first-round pick will be the least favorable of the selections controlled by Utah, Cleveland and Minnesota (Twitter link). The Wolves’ pick is top-five protected, so it would have to fall outside of that range to be in play.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link), Vasilije Micic is also involved in the trade, as he’ll be sent back to Charlotte, which just traded him to Phoenix in February. Micic’s $8.1MM team option for next season will have to be exercised for that to occur.
The full trade is as follows, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
Hornets receive:
- Micic.
- 2025 No. 29 pick.
- 2029 first-round pick with the least favorable language listed above.
- 2026 second-rounder (least favorable of Golden State and Denver).
Suns receive:
- Williams.
- 2026 second-round pick (most favorable of Golden State and Denver).
Williams, 23, was nearly traded to the Lakers at the February deadline, but Los Angeles wound up rescinding that deal due to concerns about his physical.
A 7’0″ big man with an enormous 7’7″ wingspan, Williams was productive when healthy this past season for Charlotte, averaging 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 44 appearances (26.6 minutes per game). He shot 60.4% from the field and a career-best 80.4% from the foul line.
However, health has been a huge issue for Williams through three NBA seasons, having played a total of just 106 games. He also has been a negative defender, particularly when trying to switch onto smaller players on the perimeter.
It’s telling that Charlotte was so determined to move Williams despite his very real upside as a scorer and rebounder. The Hornets only won 19 games last season, but they were substantially worse when Williams was on the court (-12.7 net rating) compared to when he was off it (-7.7).
Obviously, Phoenix is betting that Williams and Maluach will be long-term answers in the middle. After trading away Deandre Ayton two years ago, the Suns have been lacking reliable play up front.
Interestingly, the Suns sent Josh Okogie and multiple second-round picks to Charlotte in January in order to acquire Nick Richards, whose $5MM salary for 2025/26 is non-guaranteed. Adding Maluach and Williams might signal that Phoenix will opt to waive Richards — yet another center — instead of retaining him.
Interesting considering they just drafted maluach.
The Suns have been so desperate to get a good center in the building since they traded Ayton. Really convinced themselves they were better off with Nurkic and Plumlee and now they had to spend like three 1st round picks plus to swap them out. They should have just kept Ayton and Toumani at that point
Not for 133 million.
They used a first on Maluach, two firsts for Mark Williams, and another to dump Nurkic, so actually four 1st plus all the additional seconds for Richards and the rest of these trades. Definetely worth it to just keep paying Ayton at that point and use all those firsts to trade for a legit player or fill out your roster. Plus they traded away one of the best young defenders in the league in that trade as well…
Wow, 4 firsts and a bunch of 2nds plus Toumani ! I hadn’t realized till now.
That’s a lot of midrange shots.
We also just watched the Thunder win a championship starting two 7ft ers next to each other. Copycat league.
But these two 7fters are different than what the Thunder rostered. The Thunder had one defensive big man and a potential unicorn, while the Suns just got a throwback big man who’s not very good on D and a potential defensive big man.
Totally different.
I didn’t say it was as good move or the right move. What I said was the thunder just did X and the suns are copying X with their version. Not that the suns version will be as good or even work at all.
Zero sense from the suns.
Williams Maluach Richards Ighardo
All shooting guards and centers, ishbia is the smartest
I would be willing to bet that Oso is going to be used as an asset to try and move Beal
Just heard that the Suns and Chicago are discussing a deal which will involve Beal going to the Bulls.
See what comes out in the wash. Malia his going to need some time.
Suns are hilarious
What’s the conversation like in this dumb draft room?
“How many shooting guards do we have?”
“Seven”
“How many centers?”
“One”
“Hold my beer”
Suns sure do love those Hornets centers
Nick Richards back to backing up Mark Williams hahaha
Talk about selling low… that’s going to be the #29 pick and probably another mid 20’s pick in 2029 for a very good young center. Bizarre, even if his knee is f**ked up.
Very good young centre is not an accurate description of Williams. His defense is atrocious.
You can be a very good young player and a bad defender, they aren’t mutually exclusive. He shot 80% from the free throw line. He averaged almost 21 points and 13.7 rebounds per 36 minutes while shooting over 60%.
He’s been hurt every year though so I get why they traded him. But to get two late first round picks for him seems ridiculous. He could play two more seasons and be more valuable than what they got back. If he plays ten more it could be another typical Hornets move.
Agree, for the most part. He’s eligible for the rookie extension, though. Maybe Charlotte had the talks and were not happy with what he was asking. Phoenix will need to figure it out.
But the guy is quality.
Hilarious. Well I guess Portland needs another center so they can out-stupid the Suns.
Suns would look for trade all season long
Trade trade trade
2029 pick is least favorable?
Hornets need new GMs
Guys, MW did just average 15 and 10 with a block and a half a game. Yes, they did just add Khaman, but I don’t hate him backing up MW for a year or two.
> Yes, they did just add Khaman, but I don’t hate him backing up MW for a year
> or two.
Not so fast. MW is a bad defender. There’s a reason the Hornets sent him out for 2 very low first round picks. I suspect we’ll be hearing soon about the Suns plans for a twin tower lineup.
Two 1sts are still a decent haul for MW.
I don’t disagree that he’s not a great defender, but he’s better than some of the guys starting at the 5 in the league right now. I’m not a big fan of him or anything, so this is not a biased opinion. I just think that he’ll be a good short term answer before Khaman becomes the long term solution.
> Two 1sts are still a decent haul for MW.
Except they’re the lowest grade 1sts you can get:
– 29th in this year’s first round
– 24-30th pick in next years first round
That’s disappointing to Hornets fans.
Interesting to hear you denigrate late 1st rounders as a “disappointing” haul yet proclaim that all “successful” teams stockpile 2nds. It’s almost like you’re making everything up as you go.
Just bring back James Jones… this isn’t working out for the Suns
Absolute steal for the Suns
Something gotta be up with Williams physically for him to go for this small a return. Hornets can’t be choosing to tank already, can they?
> Hornets can’t be choosing to tank already, can they?
My thought also. How else to explain it?
Im guessing they just really like McNeeley. I’m pretty big on Dalton Knecht & McNeeley myself. As good as Williams is, he’s definitely injury prone & if you get a young guy like Knecht or McNeeley plus a future 1st for him you gotta consider it at the least. Diabite & Kalkbrenner are both intriguing prospects but obv they need a starting 5. Lucky for them there’s a good amount of options available in free agency rn.
They were better when he didn’t play. Sure his basic counting stats look good but his advance stats are brutal because his defense is that bad.
Bro just watch his tape, he’s def 1 of the better defensive bigs in the game.
Uh, Hornets only won 19 games last year. Seems like they were already tanking. Might as well go for it.
They tanked last yr bc Grant Williams, Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball & Mark Williams missed majority of the season. Next season is obv a new season.
The Hornets and Suns sure do trade a lot..
> The Hornets and Suns sure do trade a lot.
Re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Suns getting bailed out by one of the few current franchises more embarrassing than they are. Like the fantasy owner you know has no clue what they’re doing and you try to get in on the action with.
Maybe this eventually looks good for the Hornets if Williams does fall apart but jesus, basically a 2nd rounder (actually, WORSE than an early 2nd given the contract implications) and a likely not favorable 1st in 4 years. I’d rather have just held him until the deadline and hope his market would look a little better then, particularly if he could stay healthy.
Great trade! Mark Williams will be the starting Center on the Phoenix Suns and his career ready to take off.
Good trade for both teams, notwithstanding the 2k’er angst. Some of which is comical in this instance.
Williams is a physical freak. He hasn’t logged enough consistent time for any 2k’er evaluation to be meaningful. Based on the LAL trade price, and his performance since the deal was rescinded, Willams’ trade value over the next year (unless he gets hurt) figures to be well in excess of the two picks going to CHA. Obviously, this deal was negotitated prior to the draft, but I’m not surprised that PHX didn’t look to get out of it simply because they had the good fortune of KM falling to them at #10.
CHA screwed the pooch with Williams when they dealt him to LAL at the deadline. When you trade a young developing player, it ends any relationship he might have with the team. At that point, he has to be traded, better sooner than later. CHA probably should have gotten more, objectively, but since he’s headed into year 4 of his RSC, and has a saga behind him, that’s not certain. Doing right by the player matters some too. This trade was on the board, and I can’t fault the CHA FO for ending the saga tonight.
We are waiting for the next head scratcher move by the suns!
Charlotte and Utah shouldn’t even have teams …..
If Williams couldn’t be traded cause of injuries. Why is he able to be traded now. If this issue about his legs were right. Why wouldn’t it be reported now. That Suns gave him a good physical and he passed.
Why would you draft Maluach. Then trade for Williams on same day. Suns already have a decent center that can start, N Richards. And can pick up another one if needed. Those picks are more important to help them rebuild. McNeeley would have been a solid pick for them now. Imo he should off went higher. Suns just seem lost ……. No direction at all .
This is funny considering they just traded for Nic Richards 5 months ago.