Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope focused with legal issues behind him

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 6: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 6, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 6: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 6, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has turned things around with his legal issues behind him.

The Los Angeles Lakers surprised a lot of people last offseason when they signed shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope was a restricted free agent with the Detroit Pistons looking for a max-contract. That kind of money wasn’t anything the Lakers were looking to spend, but as the offseason wore on they became a fit for Caldwell-Pope.

Eventually, the Pistons renounced their rights to Caldwell-Pope, making him an unrestricted free agent. They added Langston Galloway, Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard during the offseason, so there was no longer a need for Caldwell-Pope. Needing the cap space, they renounced the rights to Caldwell-Pope to open up some money.

As an unrestricted free agent, the Lakers pounced. They signed Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $18 million deal. They landed an upgrade at the shooting guard spot for this season, while not eating into the future salary cap space. It was a win-win for the Lakers.

Caldwell-Pope brought a lot to the table that the Lakers were lacking. He is considered a solid 3-and-D player, which the Lakers needed both of. Their defense and 3-point shooting were both abysmal last season, and Caldwell-Pope was brought in to improve that.

For a majority of the season, Caldwell-Pope was inconsistent in providing that. He had some bright spots, but plenty of low-lights as well.

More from Lake Show Life

Caldwell-Pope began the season suspended for two games because of a DUI. The suspension was handed down in June. However, that was not the only time the Lakers would be without their shooting guard.

In late December, Caldwell-Pope began serving a 25-day jail sentence. He was able to participate in practice and games in California, but whenever the Lakers were out of town he was in jail. It was an odd situation, as Caldwell-Pope was able to leave as part of a work-release program.

That is a tough situation for anyone to handle. Caldwell-Pope was feeling the weight of it, which resulted in some up-and-down play. Being in and out of the lineup isn’t easy for the team as a whole.

However, with his legal problems now behind him, Caldwell-Pope can focus solely on the basketball court.

"“I mean it was kind of hard with that situation I had, but now that’s behind me,” Caldwell-Pope said. “I can focus on just one thing — that’s basketball. It’s been good just to be able to get my work when I need it and just be ready for games.”"

Caldwell-Pope has looked like a different player since the jail sentence was over. Caldwell-Pope had a strong stretch in January in which he averaged 16.8 points per game over a five-game stretch. Included in that was a 27-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies.

An Achilles injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder would sideline him again, and once again knock him out of rhythm. He had a few okay performances after that, but inconsistency plagued him again. It has taken some time to get back into rhythm, but Caldwell-Pope has once again gotten on track for the Lakers.

Caldwell-Pope has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in six of the last seven games, reaching double-digit points in six out of seven games as well. He knocked down a career-high tying eight against the Sacramento Kings on February 24th. Caldwell-Pope set a career-high for rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night with 14.

Caldwell-Pope is hoping to continue riding this momentum, showing the Lakers what he can truly do without the burden of the legal troubles that impacted him earlier in the season.

"“It kind of takes you out of a rhythm,” Caldwell-Pope said of the injury and legal issue. “You’ve got the same rhythm every day just to keep you going. So once that rhythm is broken, it’s kind of hard to get back with it when you got a lot of things going on.”“I built my career in the league playing defense and making shots,” he added, “and also making plays when I needed to. That’s kind of my game and how I built my career.”"

While Caldwell-Pope has his shortcomings, he is having one of the best seasons of his career with the Lakers. He is having the best shooting season of his career and is setting a new career-high for rebounds and steals.

Next: 10 Greatest Free Agent Signings In Lakers History

Caldwell-Pope is setting himself up to land that long-term deal that he was hoping to land last season. He is someone the Lakers could consider retaining if they are unable to land any of the big sharks in free agency.

Home/Lakers News