The Los Angeles Lakers have made a major move ahead of the 2025 transactional freeze, sending Cam Reddish, Dalton Knecht, and a first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams and a 2030 pick swap, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. This trade marks a crucial shake-up for the Lakers, who are looking to regain their interior depth after their shocking deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić.
For Reddish, this trade signals yet another change of scenery. The former 10th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft is now on his fifth team in six seasons, following stints with the Hawks, Knicks, Trail Blazers, and Lakers. Despite brief flashes of promise, including a 35-game run with New York, Reddish has struggled to cement his place in any rotation. His time with the Knicks remains a niche piece of NBA trivia, as he was initially acquired in a 2022 trade with Atlanta that saw Kevin Knox go the other way. However, he quickly fell out of the lineup and was later flipped to Portland in a deal that brought Josh Hart to New York, a move that ultimately benefited the Knicks.
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With the Lakers, Reddish had built a reputation as a solid defender, but his role in the rotation had diminished significantly. Averaging just 18 minutes per game—his lowest in any season, he found himself on the fringes of the team’s plans. Now, as an unrestricted free agent this summer, he has an opportunity to rebuild his value in Charlotte, where the 12-36 Hornets continue to stockpile assets in a long-term rebuild.
This trade also sets up an intriguing matchup when Reddish faces his former team, the Knicks, on March 20 in Charlotte. Meanwhile, New York, currently sitting at 34-17, prepares to host the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in what promises to be a high-stakes Eastern Conference showdown.
