How does trading a player with a large contract impact salary cap space?

Trading a player with a large contract can significantly impact salary cap space, and the reason A is the correct choice is rooted in how salary cap rules function in the context of trades. When a player with a substantial contract is traded, the receiving team must have the capacity within their salary cap to absorb that player's salary. If they do not have enough space, they could incur penalties or be forced to make additional moves to accommodate the incoming salary, hindering their ability to build their roster effectively.

The other options do not accurately reflect the implications of a trade. The notion that the trading team immediately clears all cap space is misleading because while they can gain cap relief by trading the player, there are often residual effects or considerations regarding any dead money (unamortized signing bonuses) left on their cap. Similarly, saying that it has no effect on salary cap calculations is erroneous, as trades directly influence each team's cap situation. Finally, if a player’s salary is deducted from both teams' caps, that is incorrect; only the receiving team adds the player's salary to their cap, while the trading team may have to account for dead money, depending on the contract specifics. Thus, the chosen answer effectively recognizes the complexities involved in managing salary cap space when trading