LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended with a thud on April 30, 2025, as the Minnesota Timberwolves clinched a 103-96 victory in Game 5, wrapping up a 4-1 first-round playoff series. But the real sting came hours later, when Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams fired off a single, smirking emoji on social media, a pointed taunt aimed at the Lakers after they’d backed out of a trade for him in February.
The Lakers’ playoff collapse was brutal. Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, a 7-foot-1 tower, dominated with 27 points and 24 rebounds, career highs in the postseason. Los Angeles had no answer. Their tallest starter stood at 6-foot-8, and their big-man rotation—Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len—barely saw the floor. Coach JJ Redick even turned to stretch forward Maxi Kleber, fresh off a foot injury, for desperate fourth-quarter minutes. It wasn’t enough. Gobert feasted, grabbing nine offensive rebounds and shooting 12-of-15 in the paint.
Williams’ emoji—a simple smile—spoke volumes. Back on February 5, the Lakers had agreed to trade rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap to Charlotte for the 23-year-old center. The deal was meant to pair Williams, a 7-foot-1 lob threat, with Luka Dončić, whom the Lakers had just acquired in a blockbuster trade. But on February 8, the Lakers pulled the plug. The reason? Williams failed his physical, with the team citing “multiple issues” unrelated to his prior back injuries. The trade was rescinded, leaving Williams in Charlotte and Knecht and Reddish back in L.A.
The Hornets cried foul. On February 10, they contacted the NBA, exploring ways to challenge the Lakers’ medical evaluation. No formal protest was filed, and the league took no action. Williams, who’d played 23 games for Charlotte this season despite a history of ankle, thumb, back, and foot injuries, returned to the Hornets’ lineup. He’s averaged 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, showing the kind of rim-running, board-crashing presence the Lakers sorely missed against Minnesota.
Los Angeles’ decision to nix the trade looked costly in hindsight. Without a true center, their frontcourt crumbled. Hayes, benched for much of the series, offered little resistance. Len didn’t play at all. Kleber, at 6-foot-10, was a stopgap, not a solution. The Lakers’ gamble on small-ball fizzled, and Williams’ emoji rubbed salt in the wound.
The taunt wasn’t just personal—it was a reminder of a missed opportunity. Williams, a 2022 first-round pick out of Duke, had been thrilled at the prospect of joining LeBron James and Dončić. On February 5, he’d posted purple and gold heart emojis, buzzing with excitement. When the deal fell through, he stayed quiet. But on April 30, with the Lakers’ season over, he let that smiley face do the talking.
Charlotte, meanwhile, finished the season 19-63, nowhere near the playoffs. Williams’ jab wasn’t about his team’s success—it was about the Lakers’ failure. The Hornets welcomed him back after the trade collapsed, praising his “talent, work ethic, and character” in a statement on February 8. He’s eligible for a contract extension this summer, though his injury history remains a question mark.
For the Lakers, the offseason looms with big decisions. Dončić and James are locked in, but the center spot is a glaring hole. Knecht, back in the fold, averaged 9.4 points as a rookie. Reddish, waived in March, is gone. The 2031 pick and 2030 swap stayed in L.A.’s pocket—for now. Whether they’ll chase another big man, or stick with their undersized lineup, is anyone’s guess.
Williams’ emoji? That’s already gone viral.