In ESPN's annual offseason survey, the Phoenix Suns' trade for Mark Williams received a vote for the worst move of the offseason. The deal went down on draft night, with the Suns sending Vasilije Micić, the No. 29 pick, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Hornets for Williams. Phoenix went from needing a center to having two in Williams and Khaman Maluach.
On the "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective" podcast, Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon discussed the survey results. MacMahon said that he "understands" why Phoenix made the trade, and he noted the inclusion of the pick that the Suns received in last season's trade with the Jazz.
A few months before the Suns got Williams, everyone thought he was headed to the Lakers in a trade that was labeled as a win for Los Angeles. However, the Lakers rescinded the trade due to Williams' physical. He went back to Charlotte.
Williams was the No. 15 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and since then, he hasn't come anywhere close to playing a full season due to injuries. The highest number of games he has played is 44, which occurred this past season. That's a little over half of a full 82-game season.
If that trend continues, the trade will age poorly for Phoenix. Availability is the most important ability, right? LA nixed the trade for a reason, one that could haunt the Suns.
Mark Williams trade labeled as one of the worst offseason moves
You would almost think that the Suns traded Devin Booker and Kevin Durant for Williams based on some of the reactions to the trade. The future first-round pick that Phoenix sent Charlotte isn't valuable. Williams isn't some nobody player.
The center will turn 24 later this year, so he could have a long career in Phoenix, as long as he stays healthy. That's the biggest question mark.
Was it a risk to trade for him? Yes. Does that make it a bad trade? No.
Williams averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game last season for the Hornets. He needs to continue to develop on the defensive end, but he can score and rebound.
The trade wasn't Phoenix's most questionable move of the offseason, with waiving-and-stretching the remainder of Bradley Beal's contract receiving three votes in the survey for the worst offseason move. You can also throw the Durant trade in there, given what the Suns received (or didn't get) in return.
The Williams trade isn't the end of the world. It still won't be the end of the world even if it doesn't go in the Suns' favor.