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Los Angeles Lakers: Trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the right move

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is wildly inconsistent

If you just look at the basic box score numbers for KCP it may appear as if he is having a solid season for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is averaging 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 40.3% three-point shooting. That three-point shooting number is the big standout of KCP’s season.

The problem is that his shooting marks are a bit skewed. KCP started the season off red-hot, which naturally gave him enough of a runway to cool down and still have good shooting numbers. Not only that, but KCP has been extremely inconsistent this season.

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He has nights where he absolutely cannot miss but he also has nights where he could not throw water into the ocean. That is not the kind of player you want to have in the NBA Playoffs, especially when he is the best and most trusted shooter on the roster.

Since his 7-10 three-point shooting night on January 21 (yes, if you didn’t remember he shot 7-10 from deep in one game), KCP is shooting just 31.2% from beyond the arc and 37.3% from the field. That is really bad.

That one game is really holding up his shooting marks as well. KCP made 12% of his season three-point shots in that one game. He has 22 games this season where he shot 33% or worse from beyond the arc and 15 games where he shot better than 33.3%.

He certainly has value, but not as much as the basic box score indicates. Any Laker fan that watches the games knows how inconsistent he can be and the Lakers certainly could upgrade in the right move.

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