After splurging their cash on four major free agency targets, it will not be long until the Los Angeles Lakers are scraping through the more modest offerings of the open market in search of late-game value. That could provide an invitation to reunite with a familiar name — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Chris Haynes reported on Twitter/X: "Memphis Grizzlies and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are on the verge of working on a parting resolution as he could be traded or become a free agent relatively soon, league sources tell me."
At $21.6 million for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign, it may be difficult to envision any team taking on KCP's current contract via trade, even if there is only one year left on it. The buyout route might be the likelier path for Caldwell-Pope and the Grizzlies to explore.
The former Laker found plenty of success during his last stint in Los Angeles. If the franchise believes there is a reclamation project worth taking on here, they could squeeze out what good basketball Caldwell-Pope has left in him.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be a low-risk gamble for the Lakers
Caldwell-Pope's career took a downward spiral the moment he decided to leave the green pastures of Denver in favor of a payday with the Orlando Magic. With limited offensive creators to generate opportunities for him with both the Magic and Grizzlies, his issues were put under a bigger spotlight.
It was bad enough in Memphis that Caldwell-Pope quickly lost a permanent spot among the starters. That does not paint a pretty picture.
Less has always been more with KCP, though. Self-creation has never been the strength of his skill set. It is why he thrived playing off both LeBron James and Nikola Jokic, who were handing him easy shooting opportunities on a silver platter.
You know who else does that? Luka Doncic.
There are few players in the NBA who are better at giftwrapping easy opportunities on the perimeter for their teammates. Playing with Doncic will get you practice shots.
Since arriving in Los Angeles in 2017 through his departure date from Denver in 2024, Caldwell-Pope was knocking down 38.9 percent of his 4.6 attempts from deep. The proof of concept regarding his ability to play off an elite creator is there.
Whether or not Caldwell-Pope can still be an effective defender for the Lakers should interest them far more.
"He's still a passable defender but it’s definitely getting worse compared to what he used to be," Beale Street Bears Site Expert Abbas Bokhari told me in a conversation about KCP recently.
Perhaps the Lakers cannot come knocking if they expect Caldwell-Pope to take on a sizable defensive role like he once had during his best years in Los Angeles. However, the flyer could be worthwhile for the bench depth if other roster needs are addressed through alternative means.
Any deal for KCP would naturally be no more than the veteran minimum. For that price tag, the Lakers can afford to find out how much Caldwell-Pope has in the tank at this stage of his long career.
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