The Los Angeles Lakers have finally made their first free agency acquisition of the offseason in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The signing fills some of the biggest needs the team had.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made the next step in rebuilding their 2017-2018 roster. Earlier this offseason, L.A. swapped D’Angelo Russell for the services of center Brook Lopez. In doing so, the ball club obtained an above average scorer down low and someone who can mentor fan favorite Ivica Zubac.
Additionally, the team picked up several pieces through the NBA draft. Needless to say, the team’s biggest prize came in the form of UCLA’s star point guard Lonzo Ball.
Even supposing these additions, the Lakers’ backcourt remained a bit thin due to the departure of charismatic sharpshooter Nick Young. The 16-time world champs also opted to trade sixth man Lou Williams back in February.
Once the free agency bell rang, it not to say that the team did not try. The fact of the matter is that Los Angeles remained firm in their stance to not commit to any multi-year pacts.
Consequently, it is precisely why the purple-and-gold missed out on pieces such as George Hill and Dion Waiters.
Recently, the Lakers did anything but miss out. The storied franchise signed unrestricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $18 million contract.
This kind of money now makes the 24-year-old one of the league’s 10 highest paid players at his position.
$18 million is certainly a high price tag. In spite of that truth, there are multiple reasons as to why securing Caldwell-Pope was a wise move for the purple-and-gold.
This contract is right up the Lakers’ alley given that there is no long-term guarantee for the former Piston. Interestingly enough, the deal is right up Caldwell-Pope’s alley. Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times sheds light on why this is so.
"The deal allows Pope to reenter the market next season to secure the kind of high-end, multiyear deal he could have received had he become a free agent earlier."
Thus, the one-year contract is a risk in some measures. Nevertheless, the gamble could very well pay big dividends for the Lakers.
It is possible that their new shooting guard could re-sign with the Lakers if he exceeds expectations in 2017-2018. If that does not transpire, though, the team would still have a glut of money to spend next summer.
In 2018 names such LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and the constantly discussed Paul George all project to hit free agency. The Lakers conjecture that they can lock up two such talents with the cap space they’ll have.
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Regarding James in particular, it is crucial to note that both he and Caldwell-Pope possess the same agent. This only makes the possibilities for 2018 all the more curious to mull over.
That is all in the future, though, and, in the now, the Lakers just picked up a solid, much-needed asset.
Los Angeles got someone who clearly fills a couple of the largest holes they had. Ryan Phillips of The Big Lead delves into more specifics as to what this deal means for the slowly recovering franchise.
"During his first four years in the league, Caldwell-Pope has become a really good two-way shooting guard. He has steadily improved both his 3-point shooting and his defense, and he’s still young enough to have plenty of ceiling left."
The “ceiling” portion of Phillips’ argument is critical to analyze since Caldwell-Pope had perhaps the best all-around year of his career last year. He averaged 13.8 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. The assist total was a career high for the young guard.
Although the assist totals are not through the roof, it is encouraging to know that KCP is willing to share the sugar.
The most comforting word in that sequence, however, is when it comes to defense. The Lakers’ defensive ratings over the last several seasons have been nauseating.
Because the league is chock full of speedy, athletic guards, the insertion of Kentavious is just what the doctor ordered. His presence should partially slow down elite guards such as Westbrook.
On account of the acquisition, it is feasible to assume that Jordan Clarkson will come off the bench albeit Jeff Smith of Heavy.com thinks otherwise.
Granted Clarkson may be a little more polished offensively than Caldwell-Pope, the latter is arguably every bit as polished of a player. It is likely that Clarkson will for sure be the primary sixth man in 2017-2018 provided he is kept.
It is not to assert that Caldwell-Pope is a liability on offense. In 2016-2017, he accumulated a .350 shooting percentage from behind the arc. With Ball running the show, that percentage could elevate easily.
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With all of that out there, it is difficult to claim that this was not a good signing on Los Angeles’ part. Caldwell-Pope could definitely improve certain elements of his game, no doubt. But the four-year wing is already one of the better two-way ballplayers the NBA has to offer.
Ultimately a lift in the backcourt is what the Lakers needed. How the projected tandem of Lonzo and Kentavious turns out remains an uncertainty. Be that as it may, the first free agent signing during the Magic Johnson era is every bit as awesome as one of his Coop-a-loop passes from back in the day.