PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns โcenter Mark โขWilliamsโข admits to feeling โคa “little extra” motivation when โfacing the Los โAngeles Lakers on Monday, fueled by the failed trade that nearly sent him to the teamโ earlier this year.โค The trade, which would have seenโค Williams dealt to the Lakers for โthen-rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick, was rescinded after Williams failed his physical.
Williams acknowledged the situation left him without full clarity.”Not โฃin real detail. I’m โคkind ofโค past it now. Just moved on from it,” he said when asked about the โlack of clarification surrounding the trade’s collapse. Despite the unresolvedโค nature of the deal, Williams has already faced the โฃLakers once as the โtrade fellโ through, recording 10 โpoints and nine rebounds in a 100-97 Charlotte win onโ Feb.โค 19 in Los Angeles.
Theโ Suns โขacquired Williams from the Hornets in the offseason, trading two first-round picks toโข secureโค his services. The Lakers, currently 15-4 andโ riding a seven-game winning streak, present a meaningful challenge as Phoenix begins a four-game road trip.
Williams outlined the keys to success against the Lakers, emphasizing, “They’reโข playing well right now. I thinkโ taking care of the ball. They’ve got some high-level scorers in (Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves). Keeping them โoff the free-throw line, I think, will really โขbe huge. Staying disciplined. Forcing them โขinto tough twos and playing โฃour own game. Win the possession โฃgame, rebound the ball, playing with pace.”
Following the Lakers matchup, the Suns will face the Houston Rockets (13-4), Minnesota Timberwolves (12-8), and Oklahoma โขCity Thunder (20-1) in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Dec. 10. Williams expressed the โคimportance of a strong start to the road trip, stating, “We have some days in between games,โ finally. All of our opponents are tough. It’s a toughโข stretch, but I think starting off the right note with the first one will be the biggest thing.”
