Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back), while taking questions from the media on Monday, stated he does not need surgery. He also said "he's definitely feeling better" and plans to play every game next season. While Williams' proclamation regarding his availability throughout the 2024-25 campaign could be a stretch, fantasy managers are still glad to hear things are moving in the right direction. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks this season. However, Williams was limited to only 19 games because of a back injury. With that said, he's not worth reaching for in fantasy drafts, but he could easily surpass his ADP expectations if he stays healthy.
Hornets Will Re-Evaluate Mark Williams In Four Weeks
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will remain a spectator for Friday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, and it's likely to stay that way for about another month. General manager Mitch Kupchak revealed on Friday that while Williams is expected to return this season, he won't be re-evaluated for approximately four more weeks. It's not the update fantasy managers were looking for, and the 10-40 Hornets are unlikely to have much incentive to bring back the second-year big man in March. Williams should stay stashed for managers who can afford the roster spot, but those needing healthy bodies now can at least consider pulling the plug at this point. With P.J. Washington shipped away on Thursday and Grant Williams unavailable, Nick Richards should get all the run he can handle at the five against the struggling Bucks and going forward.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is still out for Wednesday's game versus the Toronto Raptors. Williams' absence will now reach the two-month mark due to recovery from a lingering lower back contusion, and he remains out indefinitely. With Gordon Hayward (calf) getting upgraded to questionable on Wednesday following a lengthy hiatus, Williams will hope for a similarly positive update ahead of Friday's clash with the Milwaukee Bucks. Fellow paint presence Nick Richards has enjoyed an extended run of boosted fantasy value, most recently averaging 12.5 points on 69.2% field-goal shooting, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 31.0 minutes across his last eight appearances, and he finds himself in a favorable position against Toronto's mediocre defense on Wednesday.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will not play in Monday's game versus the Los Angeles Lakers. There just doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel here, with Williams now being absent for a 29th consecutive game. Until the Hornets provide an update on the 22-year-old interior presence's recovery from a lower back contusion, he should be deemed doubtful ahead of each tilt. Charlotte next hosts the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. In the meantime, Nick Richards will continue to man the middle for head coach Steve Clifford. A strong source of boards, swats, and field-goal percentage, Richards is providing 13.7 points on 72.5% field-goal shooting, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game since Jan. 24.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is still out for Friday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams continues to sit out as part of his lengthy recovery from a lower back injury, having not been spotted on the floor since Dec. 8. It's been a frustratingly long layoff for fantasy managers, and even though Williams should be deemed doubtful at best to return on Sunday when the 10-36 Hornets host the Indiana Pacers, we would recommend continuing to hang onto the second-year big man in all fantasy leagues for upside to rack up blocks and rebounds when healthy. Nick Richards will remain Charlotte's starting center and a solid fantasy option in the meantime, and across his latest five games, he's averaging a strong 15.2 points on 75.0% shooting from the floor, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks.
Mark Williams Ruled Out Again On Friday Versus Rockets
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) has been ruled out again for their contest against the Houston Rockets on Friday. Instead of just a "back contusion" he's now listed on the injury report with "injury recovery." That doesn't give much of a timetable for his return, but it does seem to finally be trending in the right direction. He's missed 22 consecutive games and this will be his 23rd. The last game he played was back on December 8, but he wasn't able to play the entire time due to his back issue. Nick Richards is going to remain in the starting lineup as long as Williams is sidelined and he can be a quality streaming option until that time.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will remain on the sidelines Wednesday against Detroit. He's missed 21 games while dealing with a back problem, last featuring on Dec. 8. Nick Richards (ankle) has had a good spell as Williams' replacement in the starting five, but he also recently landed on the shelf. The injuries have helped Nathan Mensah break into the rotation. However, he's been very quiet all around, while P.J. Washington has also struggled for consistency as the new starting center.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) remains out on Friday against the Spurs. It appears the trend will continue moving forward, with head coach Steve Clifford reporting that the 22-year-old isn't nearing a return. Williams has nearly averaged a double-double this season. However, until Williams is ready to return, Nick Richards (ankle) should continue to fill most of the void in the middle. But with Richards also questionable against San Antonio, JT Thor and Nathan Mensah could see enough work to warrant streaming in deeper fantasy setups.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) remains out on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Fantasy managers didn't expect the big man to be out this long. However, he'll now miss his 15th consecutive game. Unfortunately, Williams will miss more time because of the back contusion, meaning Nick Richards will remain in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. The 26-year-old has played well in his 15 appearances as a starter this season, averaging 8.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. With production like that, Richards should be featured in all fantasy lineups, especially for category managers looking for boards and swats.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) has already been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Chicago Bulls. Usually, the team has been listing him as doubtful and then downgrading him the day of the game, but they didn't bother with that same song and dance this time around. There still isn't a timetable for Williams' return from his lower back contusion. There hasn't even been an update on how he feels and how much it's been limiting him from practice. So, while he sits out for a 14th consecutive game, Nick Richards will get the start at center again. Nathan Mensah saw some of the backup minutes in their last contest, while JT Thor could see some opportunities as well.
