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Los Angeles Lakers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope believes this was his best season

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers as he drives to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center on April 6, 2018 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers as he drives to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center on April 6, 2018 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope believes the 2017-18 season was the best yet in his career.

The Los Angeles Lakers had clear needs last summer when they entered the offseason. Improving their 3-point shooting and defense were chief among those areas of improvement. With one signing, they accomplished improving both.

Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a shrewd signing by Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. His path to Los Angeles was an interesting one, as the Lakers probably weren’t on his radar at the beginning of free agency.

Caldwell-Pope began free agency as a restricted free agent with the Detroit Pistons. He was seeking a max contract and was hopeful he would land an offer sheet reflecting that. As the summer went on, it became clear that Caldwell-Pope was not in Detroit’s plans.

Detroit acquired multiple shooting guards in the offseason. Luke Kennard was selected 12th overall. Langston Galloway was signed off free agency. Avery Bradley was acquired in a trade with the Boston Celtics.

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That created a logjam in the Pistons’ backcourt. As a result, Caldwell-Pope had his rights renounced by the Pistons, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers then pounced.

Los Angeles came in with a big money offer but for only one year. The two sides eventually agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal. It was a good move for both sides. Caldwell-Pope’s skill set was much needed, and Caldwell-Pope would earn a lot of money with a chance to get back into free agency in the summer of 2018.

Caldwell-Pope had a solid season with the Lakers. He had to deal with some off-court issues, as he was suspended the first two games of the season and then had to serve jail time in which he couldn’t leave the state of California.

Despite those challenges, Caldwell-Pope is very happy how things went this season in Los Angeles. So happy, he even went as far as to call it the best season of his career thus far.

"“I thought I fit in well. When I first talked to Luke, Magic and Rob about what they wanted to do, and drafting Lonzo and Kuz, I thought I fit in well,” Caldwell-Pope said.“They wanted to play with a fast pace. I thought I fit right alongside with Lonzo, running the wing. My overall season, I feel like this is the best season I’ve had since I’ve been in the league.”"

Caldwell-Pope had the best shooting season of his career, making 42.6 percent overall and 38.3 percent from the 3-point line. That resulted in 13.4 points per game. The 5.2 rebounds per game were also a career-high, while he tied his career-high with 1.4 steals per game.

His defensive rating of 108 was the second-best mark of his career, with his 111 offensive rating being the highest mark of his career, according to Basketball-Reference.com. This is the first time in five seasons in the NBA his rating was positive at the end of the season.

Caldwell-Pope provided everything that the Lakers had hoped he would. He presented an excellent pairing with Lonzo Ball in the backcourt, as the two combined to be a strong defensive duo. Ball’s playmaking and passing also benefited Caldwell-Pope, who shot 40.3 percent on spot-up 3-pointers this season.

The pace that Ball pushed the offense at also benefited Caldwell-Pope. 22.3 percent of his shots came early in the shot clock, and he made them count, knocking down 46.8 percent of his shots overall and 48.4 percent from the 3-point line.

Next: 10 Greatest Free Agent Signings In Lakers History

Caldwell-Pope at times was inconsistent but ended up being a solid signing for the Lakers. The two sides were a good fit for each other. Will that happen again this offseason? With the Lakers having big plans in free agency, a connection later in the offseason could once again work out for both sides.

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