In one of the most shocking trade deadline moves in Charlotte Hornets history, Jeff Peterson has sent starting center Mark Williams to join LeBron James, Luka Dončic, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Williams is less than a month removed from playing the best stretch of basketball of his young career.

The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in a trade for rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and two draft picks, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press.

When Mark Williams walked out of Spectrum Center on Wednesday night, following the Charlotte Hornets’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, he probably had no idea he wouldn’t be back in the building Thursday morning.