Mark Williams Era Ends — Traded to Luka’s Old Team in Hornets’ Latest Rebuild Move

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The Charlotte Post — Queen City Insight

By Morris Johnson Sr. | The Charlotte Post

June 28th, 2025

CHARLOTTE — In a move that felt inevitable, the Charlotte Hornets have traded center Mark Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for promising young guard Jaden Hardy and a 2029 first-round pick originally owned by the Los Angeles Lakers — now home to superstar Luka Dončić.

The trade is the latest domino to fall in what fans and insiders have dubbed “The Culling” — a deliberate and sweeping rebuild engineered by new general manager Jeff Peterson. With this deal, the Hornets now hold six future first-round picks, each a potential golden ticket as the franchise retools around youth, athleticism, and long-term upside.

For Charlotte, the decision to move on from Mark Williams wasn’t easy — but it was telling. The 7-foot-1 center, drafted 15th overall in 2022, showed flashes of defensive brilliance and elite rim protection, but injuries limited his availability and ultimately cast doubt over his durability as a long-term anchor.

“Mark had all the tools,” said one Hornets assistant coach on background. “But this front office is looking to move fast. They’re done waiting on maybes.”

That shift in tone signals a stark departure from the Mitch Kupchak era, where development timelines stretched across multiple seasons. Under Peterson, the Hornets are adopting a more aggressive posture: clearing salary, flipping veterans and question marks, and banking on high-upside prospects and volatile future picks.

The incoming assets reflect that philosophy.

Jaden Hardy, the 22-year-old combo guard, arrives with something to prove. A former G League Ignite standout, Hardy has shown microwave scoring potential in limited minutes for the Mavericks — but playing time was often hard to come by behind Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. In Charlotte, he’ll have a far clearer runway.

“They’ll get buckets,” one league scout told The Charlotte Post. “But will they win? That’s the question.”

Hardy isn’t just a scorer — he’s a confidence engine. Expect him to challenge for a starting spot quickly, especially with the Hornets’ backcourt depth in flux. His ability to shoot off the bounce, attack closeouts, and bring intensity on both ends should make him an immediate fan favorite.

Then there’s the wildcard: the 2029 Lakers first-round pick.

At first glance, it may not scream value — but with Dončić now leading the Lakers, the NBA’s long-term future is murky. Will L.A. remain a powerhouse, or will they flame out in the post-LeBron era? The Hornets are betting on the latter, stockpiling lottery tickets in an increasingly chaotic Western Conference landscape.

For Dallas, the move is all-in on fortifying the frontcourt around Luka and Kyrie, with Mark Williams offering size, shot-blocking, and a vertical lob threat they’ve lacked. It’s a gamble — but one the Mavericks hope pays off deep into the playoffs.

As for the Hornets?

“They’re not building a team — they’re building a war chest,” an Eastern Conference GM told The Post. “And at some point, they’re going to cash it in.”

With The Culling in full swing, Charlotte’s future is unpredictable — but undeniably intriguing.