Nearly two weeks after the Los Angeles Lakers rescinded their trade for center Mark Williams with the Charlotte Hornets because, sources told ESPN, the 7-foot center failed his physical examination with L.A., his agent issued a statement Thursday disputing the Lakers' decision.
«The overwhelming sentiment, after conferring with multiple, nationally recognized doctors, is that the Los Angeles Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical,» Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management said in the statement. «Mark was ready and able to play for them and should have been given that opportunity.»
When asked for a response to Schwartz's statement by ESPN, the Lakers declined to comment.
Williams returned to the court against the Lakers on Wednesday, posting 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes in the Hornets' 100-97 win. It was Williams' first game action for Charlotte since the trade, which initially sent Lakers rookie forward Dalton Knecht, a 2030 pick swap and L.A.'s 2031 first-round pick to the Hornets for the 23-year-old big man.
Williams hadn't played since Feb. 5 for the Hornets and was listed on the injury report with «return to play conditioning» before being upgraded to available.
Williams, a third-year veteran who is averaging 15.3 points on 58.1% shooting, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season, told Fox Sports on Wednesday that he didn't believe concern about his health was the sole reason the Lakers nixed the deal.
«I don't think it was solely because of my physical,» Williams said. «I felt like I could have contributed to them. But, obviously, they had second thoughts.»
LeBron James, who dunked over Williams in Wednesday's game, was asked what it was like to face the center so soon
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