Anthony Davis Waiving His Trade Kicker for Lakers Was a Complete Waste

There are plenty of "losers" related to Kawhi Leonard's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Raptors chief among them, but Anthony Davis might actually have gotten the shortest end of the stick out of anyone.

After being traded from the New Orleans Pelicans, Davis waived his $4 million trade kicker so that the Los Angeles Lakers could afford another max contract, which was expected to be for Kawhi. Now that Kawhi has joined the other team in the Staples Center, AD has essentially thrown away $4 million for no reason.

Well, he at least got the No. 23.

As @ramonashelburne pointed out on ESPN, Anthony Davis waived his $4 million trade kicker so the Lakers could throw a max offer at Kawhi Leonard and now AD can’t get it back. So if anyone has a right to be mad at Kawhi going to the Clippers it’s him.
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) July 6, 2019

While the Lakers managed to fill out their depleted roster with the likes of Danny Green, Quinn Cook, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Davis was probably thinking that Kawhi was signed, sealed and delivered when he waived that kicker.

Anthony Davis waived his $4M trade kicker for Danny Green LMFAOOOOO
— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) July 6, 2019

Adding more shooting to a team that ranked near the bottom of the league in 3-point efficiency last season isn't a bad thing, but Davis casually refusing seven figures in hopes of getting Kawhi Leonard only to be greeted with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope instead has to be crushing,