NBA Free Agency: Insider says KCP Re-Signing With LA Lakers is a ‘Foregone Conclusion’

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was one of the stars for the LA Lakers last season. He was a key role player for the Lakers as they claimed their 17th NBA Championship.

Caldwell-Pope signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, after four years with the Detroit Pistons. He had joined the Pistons in 2013 after being drafted eighth overall in the 2013 NBA draft. However, KCP didn’t enjoy a lot of success with the Pistons.

After signing with the Lakers, KCP saw his minutes reduce drastically. He averaged close to 30 minutes a game as a starter across four seasons with the Pistons. With the Lakers, as a bench player, he averaged close to 27 minutes a game.

Even his attacking output diminished significantly with the Lakers. Caldwell-Pope averaged close to 13 points per game with the Detroit Pistons. Since coming to the Lakers, his averages have come down to 11.3 points per game.

However, it was Caldwell-Pope’s contribution off the bench that made him so valuable to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was part of the deep second unit that came off the bench when LeBron James and Anthony Davis rested.

In the 2020 Playoffs, KCP proved invaluable to the Lakers. He came on the court with important points and big shots to help the Lakers get past tough opponents. KCP averaged 11 points per game, with a 44% shooting and 38% three-point shooting this season. KCP started all 21 games for the playoffs for the Lakers.

LA Lakers bringing KCP back

Caldwell-Pope established himself as an important role player for the Los Angeles Lakers in the post-season. But because of his good performances, his value has gone up significantly. Also, questions began to emerge about his future with the Lakers.

Earlier this week, Shams Charania reported that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was opting out of player option with the Los Angeles Lakers and entering free agency, and that several franchises were interested in KCP.

This report suggested that KCP was almost gone from the Los Angeles Lakers, as he was looking to cash in on his high value. Therefore, he would be looking to go to a smaller team with greater cap space in order to maximize his earnings.

However, NBA analyst Zach Lowe is reporting that the KCP re-signing with the Lakers is a ‘foregone conclusion’. This means that the Lakers will bring back Caldwell-Pope on an extended contract with a better deal.

Re-signing KCP is a huge boost for the Lakers, who look to run it back and win another NBA Championship. But the new season is far away, and the Lakers could bring in more pieces before the end of the season.