Mark Williams took a shot at the Lakers after their elimination from the NBA playoffs. Austin Rivers doesn’t like that and has something to say about the situation.
Much was expected from the Los Angeles Lakers following their excellent play following the Luka Doncic trade. Unfortunately, the season ended in a disappointing first-round playoff exit.
The Minnesota Timberwolves proved to be too much for LA to handle. A key advantage they had in the series was size, the Lakers were simply too small.
GM Rob Pelinka had seen this coming, the Lakers had completed a trade to acquire Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets. It fell through, though, after he reportedly failed his physical.
Williams was quick to ruthlessly react to LA’s elimination on social media. He mocked the franchise by sharing a smiling emoji right after their Game 5 loss. This has now led to some backlash.
Bobby Marks says having Williams wouldn’t have made a difference for the Lakers in the playoffs. But it’s clear the center doesn’t agree and has a bone to pick with the team.
Austin Rivers acknowledged that, but questioned the situation based on Williams’ failed medical examination.
“I understand you feel a way, he is still on the Hornets, yes, and it’s like he failed a physical,” Rivers said on The Ringer’s NBA Show.
“If you didn’t fail a physical, remember they traded for you, they wanted you. I don’t know why you mad at the Lakers?”
Rivers added, “He played after that and seemed fine, but the physical did fail, for whatever reason. I get it, they lost, it’s always entertaining to sprinkle salt into the wound, he felt a way obviously, probably some embarrassment, going there, calling the trade off, probably didn’t feel too good.
“Regardless of that, he failed the physical. I don’t know what you want them to do.”
Williams always maintained his belief his physical was not the only reason for the trade being rescinded, hinting the Lakers may simply have got cold feet.
Even if the 23-year-old feels slighted by the failed physical, it’s hard to deny that his injury history isn’t concerning for NBA teams looking to acquire him.
As Rivers suggested, Williams played well for Charlotte in the aftermath of the trade fiasco. Over 24 games, he averaged 15.1 points and 10.8 rebounds.
However, he still only played 44 games the entire season. What’s even more worrying is that this is the most number of NBA games he’s ever played in an NBA campaign.
Taking all of this into consideration, what Rivers has to say makes sense. Whether right or wrong though, Williams seems locked in when it comes to disliking the Lakers.
