Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager and frequent target of the team’s fanbase for inaction on the trade market, sat in front of a bank of cameras and told everyone that there was no way to wave a “magic wand” and make the right center appear.

The Lakers follow up their trade for Luka Dončić by adding talented young center Mark Williams from the Hornets.

Los Angeles was left with Jaxson Hayes as its starting center. Luka Doncic expressed a desire to play with a lob-threat big man, so early Thursday morning, the Lakers made a deal with the Hornets. They traded rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2030 pick swap to Charlotte for big man Mark Williams.