Los Angeles Lakers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks like a new guy
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks like a new player coming into this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers made a number of headline-grabbing signings this offseason. There were plenty of new faces brought in as the Lakers decided not to retain most of their own free agents. The only player that they decided to bring back was shooting guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The Lakers and Caldwell-Pope agreed to a one-year contract for a second consecutive offseason. Last season, Los Angeles signed Caldwell-Pope for a balloon contract worth $18 million. This time, the two sides agreed on a $12 million deal.
It was a deal that some people weren’t fans of. Caldwell-Pope shares an agency with LeBron James, so there are people that believe he was re-signed to appease them. If retaining Caldwell-Pope was part of the deal to bring in James, you retain Caldwell-Pope.
While people were down in Caldwell-Pope, he is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career. Caldwell-Pope had the best shooting season of his career, in addition to averaging a career-high in rebounds per game and matching his career-high for steals per game.
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Caldwell-Pope producing at that level was surprising, given how he began the season. A suspension was served the first two games of the season, in addition to a jail sentence that wouldn’t allow him to leave the state of California. As a result, Caldwell-Pope was in and out of the lineup for a few weeks.
It was evident that the missed time negatively impacted his performance. However, once the off-court issues were behind him, Caldwell-Pope really picked things up. After the All-Star break, he upped his numbers to 14.2 points on 42.3 percent shooting from 3-point land.
This season, Caldwell-Pope will once again be relied upon for his 3-point shooting and defense. He is one of the better fits alongside LeBron James on the roster and should receive plenty of playing time.
After some up-and-downs last season, it sounds like Caldwell-Pope wants to come in ready to limit the downs this season. If his offseason work is any indication, it could happen.
Magic Johnson says Caldwell-Pope looks like a different person this offseason because of a change in nutrition.
Magic said KCP looks like a “total different guy,” and part of that has to do with nutrition. Said Pelinka discussed it with him this offseason. Added that he’s been playing like it, too, of late.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 20, 2018
We saw Brandon Ingram change and revamp his diet last offseason, and he came into the season looking like a different player as well. KCP is now taking that route it looks like.
This is a good move on Caldwell-Pope’s part. Josh Hart has been talked up all offseason and looks ready for an expanded role in his second season. Part of that expanded role could be taking over as the starting shooting guard.
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After a good first season in Los Angeles, Caldwell-Pope looks poised to take another step forward in his second season. He will be pushed by other players for playing time, so you can be sure that he will bring it on a daily basis throughout training camp to lock down minutes and a starting role.