Lakers News: David Nwaba waived by Lakers to make space for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have requested waivers on second-year guard David Nwaba, the team announced early Wednesday. News of the Lakers waiving Nwaba comes on the tail of the franchise signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year deal worth approximately $18 million.

Nwaba has been in Las Vegas playing on the Lakers’ summer league squad but now potentially faces the next big challenge in his young career with the Lakers releasing him.

The move was made in order to offer Caldwell-Pope the $18 million deal, as opposed to a deal closer to the $17 million range which they could have put on the table. There’s also a chance the Lakers re-sign Nwaba if he clears waivers, making this more of a bookkeeping task than roster decision if it goes that route.

It’s a tough break for Nwaba either way, an undrafted rookie last season who proved himself worth a closer look through solid play with the D-Fenders.

The Lakers picked up their $1.3 million team option on Nwaba weeks ago, but had their hand forced onto the waiver button once Caldwell-Pope needed slightly more money to seal the deal.