Mark Williams is 7′, 240 pounds and has been highly regarded since high school, attending the famed IMG Academy, where he became a five-star recruit. He then took his talents to Duke University, played two seasons and parlayed everything into the 15th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
In his third season with the Charlotte Hornets, Williams averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks in 26.6 minutes per game. While the rim protection hasn’t been the best, he does work on the boards and moves very well for a man his size.
Unfortunately, injuries have been a big bugaboo, as he’s played 43, 19 and 44 games in his first three seasons in the league. There have been ankle, thumb and back issues.
At last season’s trade deadline, Williams was to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, but it was rescinded after reportedly failing a physical. After that incident, the chatter was that Williams would eventually be moved at some time before the new season began.
That time is now, as the Phoenix Suns sent two first-round picks to the Hornets for Williams.
This trade occurred right after selecting center Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Suns now have Williams, Maluach, Nick Richards and Oso Ighodaro at center.
The youth movement has started in Phoenix after sending Kevin Durant to Houston, but to spend the draft capital on an often-injured center right after selecting a young, promising one in the draft seems like an unwise use of draft capital.
Grade: F
