Football
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent 4y

Inter Miami picks Lee Nguyen in MLS Expansion Draft, Nashville takes Abu Danladi

Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC made their selections in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, with Nashville immediately trading two of the picks.

Existing MLS teams were allowed to protect 12 players, with Homegrown players and Generation adidas signings -- players signed from a club's academy or who left college early -- were also protected. MLS clubs can only lose at most one player in the entire draft.

Inter Miami selected New York City FC outside back Ben Sweat, FC Cincinnati fullback Alvas Powell, LAFC midfielder Lee Nguyen, Columbus Crew midfielder Luis Argudo and Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.

"We're excited about what we were able to accomplish with this draft," said Inter Miami Sporting Director Paul McDonough. "We feel we are gaining momentum ahead of the 2020 season."

Nashville chose Minnesota United forward Abu Danladi, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 SuperDraft, Portland Timbers outside back Zarek Valentin, defender Jalil Anibaba from the New England Revolution, Atlanta United forward Brandon Vazquez, and Sporting Kansas City defender Jimmy Medranda.

Nashville then engaged in a flurry of moves. Valentin was sent to the Houston Dynamo for goalkeeper Joe Willis. Houston will also receive $75,000 in 2021 Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) if Willis meets certain performance-related incentives. Vasquez was shipped to FC Cincinnati for $150,000 in (TAM) in 2020 and $50,000 in incentive-based General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2021.

Nashville GM Mike Jacobs then raided his old club, Sporting Kansas City, by acquiring goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas for $50,000 in 2020 GAM and $125,000 in 2020 TAM plus an international roster spot in 2020. Nashville also acquired U.S. international left back Daniel Lovitz from the Montreal Impact in exchange for $50,000 in 2020 GAM and $50,000 in 2020 TAM, as well as an international roster spot.

Inter Miami's lone trade of the day saw them acquire the No. 3 pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft from FC Cincinnati in exchange for $150,000 in 2020 GAM.

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