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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 Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s contract is needed for the Los Angeles Lakers to truly upgrade

The biggest factor in pulling off a trade in the NBA is the salaries of the players. The Lakers do not have many assets as is but the assets they do have to trade (THT, if they ever commit to it) have small contracts and would not be able to bring in a true upgrade.

The ‘in-between’ contract is so valuable to have as it allows a team to piece together several players in order to make a trade possible. KCP has that ‘in-between’ contract, allowing the Lakers to truly upgrade if they were to include him in a trade.

Someone who I have circled 10 times over is Victor Oladipo. If the Lakers are open to trading THT (which is one of the burning questions of the offseason listed below), then the team could build a package around KCP, THT and a second-round pick for Oladipo. That is a good starting point and would be an upgrade for the team.

That is the best trade that I could see the Lakers could pull off but that is not the only trade. Rob Pelinka will get creative if needed and if he does indeed trade KCP then you bet he will make sure the Lakers are getting better as a result.

There are trades available if the Lakers package together some of the smaller contracts on the team, but in order to truly upgrade, they would throw KCP into the deal to make the trade work out financially.

3 burning questions ahead of the trade deadline. dark. Next

KCP has been great for the Los Angeles Lakers, but it makes sense for the team to part ways at this time.

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