Los Angeles Lakers: Why Kentavious Caldwell-Pope isn’t safe from a trade

2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has a perfectly tradeable contract

There are a few things that make someone a potential trade candidate. One factor is perceived value, while another deceit is how big a player’s salary is. Every trade has to work within the confines of the league’s salary-cap rules and that is a big factor in what players are shopped and which are not.

There is a reason why Kyle Kuzma was never traded despite all the rumors. Kuzma was still on his rookie deal and to make the salaries match without giving up too much was a challenge. Now, with his extension, Kuzma’s salary is much easier to trade for a solid role player or even package with someone else.

KCP is in the same boat and who knows, perhaps the two get packaged in trade together for someone who is an upgrade on the roster. KCP is making just over $13 million next season with his salary the following year only being partially guaranteed.

That is a perfect figure for a rebuilding team to take on as part of a package and then potentially flip for more assets. Just think Danny Green from last season, going from the Lakers to the Thunder to the 76ers.

This isn’t a new dynamic for KCP like it is for Kyle Kuzma. But there is one more reason why KCP is less safe this offseason than he was in previous offseasons and it all has to do with the status of the Los Angeles Lakers and the potential to contend soon.