The Los Angeles Lakers have backed out of a reported deal with free agent Jamil Wilson because of a lawsuit against him coming to light.
Last weekend, the Los Angeles Lakers shook up their roster. They requested waivers on veteran center Andrew Bogut. Bogut’s contract was not yet guaranteed, so the Lakers waived him before it became guaranteed. It also gives him a chance to latch on with a contending team to play for a championship.
Bogut’s veteran presence will be missed. He was a calming influence when things were difficult. While he didn’t provide much in the way of production on the court, he provided valuable leadership in the locker room.
With an open roster spot, the Lakers looked like they had found a player to fill the hole. Earlier this week, it was reported that Jamil Wilson and the Lakers were agreeing to a 10-day contract.
The Lakers and Wilson were expected to agree on the deal Wednesday, giving him a day of practice and make him eligible to play tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. However, the deal never materialized.
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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, a deal between Wilson and the Lakers will no longer be agreed upon. The reason is that of a reported lawsuit against Wilson.
According to Wojnarowski, a TMZ report surfaced on Wednesday that a woman filed a lawsuit against Wilson, alleging that a sexually transmitted disease was contracted from Wilson while she was dating him.
The woman is claiming that Wilson knew of his STD and didn’t disclose it to her when the two engaged in unprotected sex. The lawsuit was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court according to Wojnarowski.
Understandably, Wilson’s agent, Steve McCaskill of Catalyst Sports, is unhappy with the development. He shared a quote with ESPN.
"“Jamil has been irreparably harmed by the recent accusation, which has now resulted in damage to his NBA career. We will not tolerate these false accusations, but will pursue all legal remedies with the full force of the law.”"
The 27-year old Wilson played well with the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this season. He averaged seven points a game, knocking down 43 percent of his 3-point attempts. Wilson’s prowess from deep is a big reason the Lakers, who rank last in the NBA in 3-point shooting, wanted to sign him.
While this development will keep Wilson from joining the Lakers, for now, he could still join the team in the future.
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According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers have not ruled out the possibility of signing Wilson to a deal at a later date.