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How the Lakers can reunite with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this summer

By Cameron Salce

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Washington Wizards looks on during a NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at Capital One Arena on October 30, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Washington Wizards looks on during a NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at Capital One Arena on October 30, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would have to take the Taxpayer MLE (or less)

The next roadblock on the path to reuniting with KCP has to do with the Lakers’ dire financial situation. They will have limited options to sign anyone this offseason if they can’t find a trade partner for Russell Westbrook.

Los Angeles currently only has the cap space available to offer him the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (worth $6.4 million) or the league minimum. It would not be a surprise to see him get a better offer from another team or could even go to a squad more likely to contend next season.

In a perfect world, Caldwell-Pope would give the Lakers a Klutch discount, and take the MLE. He will already be making almost $5 million from Washington, that money plus the MLE would put him near his last Lakers deal where he made around $13 million a season.

He should look back to when the Lakers probably overpaid him $18 million for one season in 2017, so he can feel better about taking the pay cut.

If the Lakers did convince Caldwell-Pope to sign with them, it would also rule out a fan favorite from last year’s backcourt, Malik Monk. Some might prefer Monk over KCP because he packs more of a scoring punch and is a way better pure shooter.

On the other hand, Monk is nowhere near the defender Caldwell-Pope is and the Lakers were a better team when they surrounded LeBron and AD with defensive focused role players. KCP’s championship ring is enough to prove he is the better role player for this roster.

In the rare choice between a Monk and a Caldwell-Pope to get the Lakers’ MLE, they should go with what helped get them to the promised land before. Even though Monk was one of their best players last year, he is no Dalai Lama.

The ideal scenario would be to sign KCP on a veteran minimum contract to have enough money to bring back Monk, but it is unlikely they could convince them both to take less than their market value to play for a team that missed the playoffs last season.

Betting on himself and taking a one-year deal with Los Angeles has worked out for him in the past, so it is not impossible to think a reunion with KCP could happen.

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