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The LA Lakers found a third team in the Anthony Davis trade deal with New Orleans to take on some of their contracts so they could free up cap space to sign a max contract player this summer.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Washington Wizards will receive Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones in the deal.
The Lakers are trading Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones to Wizards as part of the Anthony Davis deal with New Orleans, league sources tell @ZachLowe_NBA and me. Deal clears contracts and creates more cap space for free agency.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2019
Anthony Davis has also decided to clear his $4 million trade kicker which puts the Lakers at $32 million to sign a max free agent this summer.
Anthony Davis is waiving his $4M trade kicker, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2019
The Lakers will start free agency with $32M in salary cap space. The Lakers have the ability to sign a max player now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2019
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has found a way to complete the Anthony Davis trade on July 6 with max space to spend on a single free agent — or divide the money among multiple players.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2019
Here is the timeline on how the Lakers will utilize cap space on July 6:
Step 1: Use the $32M in room in free agency
Step 2: Conduct the Anthony Davis trade (acting as a team over the cap) using the 125% trade exception
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 27, 2019
Of course, the NBA world went crazy of the news.
The Lakers are trading Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones to the Wizards.
Anthony Davis is waiving his trade kicker.
And the Lakers now have $32M in cap space and can now sign a max player, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/B7Z348kIrq
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) June 27, 2019
Woj: The Lakers now have $32M in cap space
Free agents:pic.twitter.com/p0tZq8xFz1
— Out of Bounds (@SI_outofbounds) June 27, 2019
More cap room is always better than less cap room (obviously) but you have to think Anthony Davis isn't waiving his $4 million trade bonus and the Lakers aren't trading away last year's draft picks to clear a max slot to not sign a max player. Stay tuned.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 27, 2019
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