Los Angeles Lakers: Grading the signings from free agency
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: C
In addition to McGee, the Lakers also decided to run it back with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Reported by Ramona Shleburne, the Lakers also gave Pope a two-year deal worth $16 Million.
The Lakers are expected to bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a two year, $16 million deal, per league sources.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 6, 2019
Kentavious Caldwell Pope is another good two-way player to backup Danny Green in the backcourt for the Lakers. Although he isn’t quite the shooter or defender that Danny Green is, he isn’t too far off. Pope is still only 25-years-old but plays very much like a veteran.
He’s also one of the healthier players in the league, playing all 82 games last season with a career low in games played in a season being just 74. That says a lot because the Lakers are filled with players who’ll likely need rest during the regular season.
Pope would be a a nice fill-in for Danny Green and a guy that can be counted on to play every single night. All that being said, Pope was probably over-paid yet again. He is a reliable backup, but just that at best. The Pope signing is average.
- Pope’s 36 minutes per game averages last season: 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals