The Charlotte Hornets are trading starting center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for Liam McNeeley (the No. 29 overall pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft) and a 2029 first-round pick, which will be the least-favorable of picks from the Suns, Cavaliers and Timberwolves (top-five protected), according to ESPN. The Hornets will also get Vasilije Micić back from the Suns after trading him to Phoenix during the season. The Suns picked up his team option to include him in the deal.
The deal marks the second time Williams has been traded in the calendar year of 2025. In February, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deadline blockbuster, but after he failed his physical, the Lakers elected to rescind the deal out of fear of his long-term health.
The Suns, however, appear to be more willing to take the risk given his talent. Last season, he averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in Charlotte despite playing only 26.6 minutes per game. While his defense is still a work in progress, he has the tools to succeed on that end of the floor so long as he can stay healthy. That is the biggest question mark for him. In three NBA seasons, he has played in just 106 of a possible 246 games.
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