Former Clipper Jamil Wilson Clears Waivers, Will Sign With Lakers

The Clippers waived forward Jamil Wilson from his two-way contract on Saturday, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he has cleared waivers and will sign a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Wilson played very well during his time with the Clippers, but they were backed into a corner. Needing guard depth after several untimely injuries, their only options were to waive Wilson, or plunge into the luxury tax for a reserve. Because the Clippers have been in the luxury tax for several years, they face repeater tax status if they pass the luxury tax threshold—a move that could cost them tens of millions of dollars in the coming years and inhibit future team-building.

It will be interesting to see where Wilson fits on the Lakers, where he will compete for power forward minutes with Kyle Kuzma, Larry Nance Jr., and Julius Randle. The Clippers were hesitant to use Wilson at small forward, where his foul-prone perimeter defense was a greater liability.

After his 10-day contract with the Lakers expires, the team will be able to offer Wilson a second 10-day deal before deciding if they would like to keep him for the rest of the season. If he does not stay with the Lakers, he’d be a free agent, able to sign 10-day or rest-of-season deals with any team (including the Clippers if their financial situation changes). The last day that two-way contracts can be signed is January 15th, and since this 10-day will carry Wilson past that deadline, he will not be able to sign on as a two-way player again this season.

The Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario own Wilson’s NBA G-League returning rights, so if he finds himself off of an NBA roster at any point this season or next season, and he chooses to return to the G-League for a stint, he will play with ACCO.