The Phoenix Suns had a surprising 2025 NBA Draft day yesterday. After watching Khaman Malauch, seen as the top big man in the draft, fall into their laps at No. 10, the Suns added more size by trading for injury-plagued 7-footer Mark Williams. For sending Williams to the Valley of the Sun, the Charlotte received the No. 29 pick in this year’s draft (Liam McNeeley), Vasilije Micic, and a 2029 first-round pick, per ESPN.
“The Suns traded the No. 29 pick and a 2029 first-round selection to the Charlotte Hornets for 7-foot center Mark Williams, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The 2029 pick will be the least favorable of Cleveland’s, Utah’s, and Minnesota’s first-round picks and is 1-5 protected, sources said.”
NBA Trade Grades: Suns Add Much-Needed Size, Hornets Add Assets
While it is not necessarily a surprise that Charlotte traded Williams for the second time in four months, as NBA Insider Marc Stein reported in March, NBA rival executives believed that the Hornets would reopen talks surrounding the young center. Of course, the Hornets thought they had a February trade deadline deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, that trade was rescinded after the Lakers were dissatisfied with the results of Williams’ physical.
Phoenix has been looking for a quality center since trading DeAndre Ayton to Portland in the summer of 2023. The Suns were hoping that Jusuf Nurkic‘s rebounding, rim-protection, and playmaking abilities were going to be a better fit at center than Ayton. After having a solid 2023-24 campaign, Nurkic struggled on both ends of the floor before being shipped out to Charlotte at the February trade deadline. Nick Richards, obtained in the Nurkic trade, finished the season as the Suns’ starting center.
Phoenix had to exercise Micic’s $8.1 million team option to make the trade work.
Suns Get Their Starting Center
Williams projects to slide right into the Suns starting lineup at the five. He has improved in each of his three NBA seasons and registered a double-double for the season (15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds) for the first time in his career. The Suns can only hope that the 23-year-old finally stays healthy.
A top-15 to-20 center in the league, Williams has yet to play at least 45 games in a season. Still, Williams has been very productive in his 104 career appearances with career averages of 12.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 24 minutes a game.
Williams is highly efficient and does most of his work inside 10 feet. Williams is limited offensively, though he is almost automatic as a finisher at the rim, converting 75% of those attempts. He does excel at catching lobs and is good in pick-and-roll situations.
Williams is also an excellent screener. But it is on the glass, both ends, where Williams thrives. Williams is an elite rebounder, ranking seventh in total rebound percentage, whether contested or all alone.
Williams is an active defender and does a great job at contesting shots all over the floor. He is long and athletic, which helps him on the defensive end. While not great in that regard, he is a quality shot blocker and will often get deflections.
Williams is on an expiring $6.27 million deal. He is eligible for an extension on July 1. If the Suns don’t extend him, Williams will be a restricted free agent.
Williams projects to see about 30 minutes a game for the Suns. Malauch will likely see between 15 and 18 minutes.
How Does Mark Williams’ Trade Affect the Suns’ Free Agency Decisions
With Malauch and Williams in the fold, the Suns have 12 players on standard contracts with a salary cap hit of over $218 million. Assuming that the Suns guarantee Nick Richards and Cody Martin‘s contracts. The Suns will likely do so as there is no benefit for them not to, as they would be near the second apron with at least four players to sign.
The only way that Phoenix can get out or close to below the second apron this season is by making a few more trades. Bradley Beal remains untradeable, though Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Dillon Brooks, Martin, and Richards are likely trade candidates, whether now or during the season.
Unless Phoenix moves under the second apron, the only players they can sign are those willing to accept league minimum contracts. So, that likely limits their options to youngsters or veterans who can find jobs. Collin Gillespie, TyTy Washington, and perhaps Jalen Bridges may be candidates for a standard deal after spending at least part of the season on a two-way contract with the organization.
Here is a look at the Suns’ projected rotation:
Starters: Williams, Devin Booker, Jalen Green, O’Neale, Brooks
Bench: Allen, Beal, Malauch, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighadoro
Deep Reserves: Richards, Martin
Charlotte Hornets Add Draft Assets
Charlotte got at least a comparable deal from Phoenix, if not better, than the Lakers gave them. Los Angeles was sending Dalton Knecht, who was the No. 17 pick in 2024, Cam Reddish, and a pick swap in 2030 and an unprotected 2031 first rounder.
McNeeley projects as a similar player to Knecht. However, the 19-year-old is much more than a shooter. He is a good passer and defensive rebounder. Like Knecht, McNeeley’s ability on the defensive end is limited.
McNeeley was the consensus No. 10 player in the 2024 recruiting class. He averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with shooting splits of 38.1/31.7/86 in his lone season at UConn. He produced four double-doubles and topped the 20-mark five times, including a career-best 38 against Creighton.
“McNeeley filled a demanding role in his lone year at UConn, which elected to play without a point guard, and it took a toll on his reputation as a shooter coming into the season,” Jonathan Givony of ESPN said. “He nonetheless found ways to contribute, but his ability to get back on track as a floor spacer will undoubtedly play a key role in his ability to earn minutes early in his NBA career.”
McNeeley and Kon Knueppel, who was the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft, figure to join Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, Nick Smith Jr., and Tidjane Sidaun as Charlotte’s young core. The Hornets own the No. 33 and No. 34 selections in this year’s second round.
Vasilije Micic and Future Draft Picks
Micic would likely have been headed over to Europe had he not been included in the trade. Now he returns to Charlotte, which is where the 31-year-old experienced his most NBA success.
Micic has produced 9.0 points and 4.7 assists with shooting splits of 39.3/32.9/83.5 in 66 appearances. It is unlikely that Micic will have a significant role with the Hornets, except in emergencies, as he struggles to shoot the ball effectively. He is an excellent distributor but turns the ball over too much and is a defensive liability.
Charlotte could now have as many as 24 draft picks from 2026 to 2032. Ten of those future draft picks are first-rounders, with seven being their own.
Hornets’ Offseason Decisions Following Mark Williams Trade
Including Knueppel and McNeeley, Charlotte has 14 players on standard contracts with a salary cap hit of around $164 million. Therefore, the Hornets would be around $34 million below the luxury tax.
Charlotte does have some flexibility, as three players hold non-guaranteed deals. Josh Okogie ($7.5 million), Moussa Diabate ($2.2 million), and DaQuan Jeffries ($2.7 million). Okogie’s deal becomes fully guaranteed on June 30, so that will be the Hornets’ first decision following the draft.
Okogie, Diabate, and Jeffries don’t figure to be a part of the Hornets’ rotation. So, Charlotte may decide to cut bait. However, the only immediate decision they have to make is regarding Okogie, while Jeffries and Diabate’s deals don’t become fully guaranteed until January 10.
Charlotte’s decision may rest with who they select in the second round. The Hornets may decide to sign one or both second-rounders to a two-way deal.
Besides deciding on Okogie, June 29 is also the deadline for the Hornets to make a qualifying offer to Tre Mann ($6.9 million). Mann was limited to 13 games this past season. However, he is fully recovered from his back disc herniation, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Charania: “Heading into Hornets restricted free agency, Tre Mann has fully recovered from his back disc herniation and has participated in all of Charlotte’s offseason activity and 5-on-5s.”
Grant Williams becomes extension eligible on July 12, while Josh Green’s does on October 23. The Hornets also have to decide whether to pick up Miller’s, Salaun’s, and Smith’s club options for 2026-27 by October 31. It would be a major surprise if the Hornets don’t exercise those options.
Mark Williams Trade Grade
Phoenix and Charlotte both got what they wanted. The Suns added a young center with size that they desperately needed, in the form of Williams. Meanwhile, the Hornets likely wanted to get something in return, as they probably didn’t intend to extend his contract due to his inability to stay healthy. Charlotte knows she has a treasure chest of future assets.
Currently, I rate the Suns a B+ due to concerns about their ability to stay healthy. Phoenix didn’t give up much for him.
McNeeley is a long-term prospect, which is okay, as he probably won’t get much playing time for a season or two. Micic was a throw-in whom the Hornets may decide to cut and eat his salary. It is conceivable that the 2029 first-rounder will turn out to be a lottery pick or a pick in the teens. My Grade for the Hornets is B-.
Both teams could emerge as the winner, depending on how Williams and McNeeley develop.
Suns Grade: B+
Hornets Grade: B-
Photo Credit: © Eric Canha, Imagn Images
The post NBA Trade Grades: Suns Add Much Needed Size, Hornets Add Assets appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.