NOVEMBER 22: The Lakers have officially re-signed Caldwell-Pope, the team announced in a press release.
NOVEMBER 21: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is returning to the Lakers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who hears from agent Rich Paul that the free agent swingman will get a three-year, $40MM deal to return to the defending champions. The third year of the contract will only be partially guaranteed, Charania notes (via Twitter).
Having put up relatively modest numbers (9.3 PPG on .467/.385/.775 shooting) during 69 regular season games (25.5 MPG), Caldwell-Pope made some big shots in the playoffs, knocking down 42.1% of his three-point attempts in the first three rounds and then averaging 12.8 PPG in the Finals, the third-highest scoring average on the team behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers’ trusted three-and-D wing turned down his $8.54MM player option in search of a raise in free agency and it wasn’t clear for the last 24 hours whether or not a reunion was in the cards.
According to Charania (via Twitter), KCP drew interest from several interested teams — previous reports indicated that the Knicks were among his potential suitors. However, Paul’s strong relationship with the Lakers helped seal the deal on a new agreement.
Having already committed to sign Montrezl Harrell with their mid-level exception and Wesley Matthews with their bi-annual exception, the Lakers will be hard-capped and don’t have a ton of room to maneuver, given the terms of Caldwell-Pope’s new deal.
As Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report tweets, it may mean Los Angeles is unable to offer Markieff Morris more than the minimum or that the club is unable to carry a full 15-man roster. Still, KCP was a priority, given his importance in the postseason, so the team will be satisfied to get him back and do what it can to fill out the rest of the roster.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I’m actually kinda surprised he came back
Its an overpay but when they going back to back will mitigate it.
3rd year is not fully guatneeed. Deal just got a lot better.
It’s part of the LeBron/AD tax. Montrezl is also a Klutch client…
Yup, KCP was the advance scout.
Nice move. Now round it out with depth and injury insurance signings. Or a trade can never be ruled out. Rob’s doing a great job
Just wondering, if KCP got what he wanted, why did dwight howard and rajon rondo did not? All of them contributed big to the lakers playoffs stint in the bubble.
They didn’t just lose Rondo and Howard. The Lakers are also losing Bradley and Green plus most likely Markieff Morris as well who was a key part of their playoff success. They could always re-sign Jared Dudley, JR Smith, or Dion Waiters since that’s about what their bench will consist of next season along with Matthews, Caruso, McGee, and Kuzma.
Batum would be the perfect final compliment. I would’ve loved Harkless but hey
I think sometimes we forget that chemistry w/ the existing group including having the trust of the others and being battle tested in the playoffs go a long way which is what KCP brings. Go ask the Clippers and Rockets what the opposite brings.
Bring back Boogie, Morris and others for the bench that can shoot and have length like Langston Galloway, Austin Rivers, Torrey Craig, Reggie Jackson to fill out the roster on minimum contracts and roll into training camp.
Another Klutch overpay
Craig would be a nice get for the bench.
I was thinking the same thing
It’s still a big mystery to me how Klutch clients seem to easily, easily find their way to the LAKERS.
I suspect it’s that Caruso dude who’s pulling all the strings ………. something fishing with that bald one.
* fishy
That’s baldism!
I just signed in so I could like that Caruso comment lol
LeBron gets his guys paid
They don’t win it without him. He deserves respect. It’s a good signing. A little overpay. But keeps team deep for another run. It’s the right move.
Resign Morris and add one more depth piece and it’s finals time if everyone is healthy. So far it’s been a upgrade at every turn.
They already used up their MLE and BAE, will he re-sign for the minimum?
They should have his Bird rights, so they can sign him for whatever.
They shouldn’t since he was a buyout signing.
I don’t know how anyone can say this is an over pay when I’ve seen some of the contracts that have gotten handed out lately to far less talented players lol. Honestly think it’s right where it should’ve been.