Los Angeles Lakers: Best free-agency fits for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

By Jason Reed | Oct 19, 2020

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his three point basket during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would be a solid role player for an NBA Title-contending team but that does not necessarily mean he will sign with one of the premier teams in the league. Instead, he might fit more into the market as an asset for a fringe playoff team, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves have the cap space to pay someone like KCP $10 million a season for three seasons, which is probably around the contract KCP would get on the open market after how he played in the NBA Playoffs.

A team like the Timberwolves makes sense because they have two young stars in Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell that provide a good baseline but still are not a great destination to lure in any of the big-time free agents.

In a perfect world, the Timberwolves would be able to add a legitimate third-best player like Danilo Gallinari or Goran Dragic but they simply do not benefit from playing in Minnesota. Instead, they find themselves in the KCP market.

The Timberwolves could use depth in the backcourt as well. While they have some young pieces that are exciting, they do not have any proven talent outside of Russell in the backcourt and KCP would provide a great veteran presence at either the one or the two, allowing guys like Jarret Culver to play more of the three, if needed.

Does KCP move the needle for the Timberwolves? No. But if they can pick up solid role players like him and hit a home run in the NBA Draft then they could absolutely shoot up the NBA ranks.

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