Suns acquire starting center during NBA Draft in trade with Hornets

Just days after trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, two second-round picks, and the 10th selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns continued to make moves.

During Wednesday night's first-round of the draft, the Suns made a move for a starting center by acquiring Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets.

Full details of the draft night trade can be found below:

Phoenix Suns Receive: Mark Williams

Charlotte Hornets Receive: 2025 First-Round Pick (#29), 2029 First-Round Pick (swap worst of Cleveland, Utah, and Minnesota)

BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 29 pick tonight and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/a6eDDn5aE6

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

Williams finds a new home after originally being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA's trade deadline, this past February. However, Williams failed his medicals with the Lakers and the deal was rescinded, sending Williams back to Charlotte.

While Williams has proven to be a starting-caliber center, the Suns gave their new acquisition some immediate competition by closing out their Kevin Durant trade by selecting Duke big man, Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick in Wednesday night's draft.