The Los Angeles Lakers should feel motivated to turn their doubters into supporters during the playoffs.
Many are adamant that the former Dallas Mavericks star’s defensive shortcomings will prevent the Lakers from making significant noise in the postseason.
However, they have the offensive talent to orchestrate a shocking run in the Western Conference.
Still, in free agency, the Lakers may add a 3-and-D Orlando Magic who’s won two NBA championships to help LeBron James, who trails Michael Jordan by two rings, reach Goat status in Los Angeles.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has struggled with the Magic in Year 12. Although the Georgia product is still an above-average perimeter defender, his three-point shooting efficiency has been unsatisfactory.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.7 points per contest on 43.9% field goal shooting and 34.2% from deep in the regular season.
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Fortunately, Caldwell-Pope, who won one title with the Lakers in 2020 and one with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, will get a chance to increase his trade value during the Magic’s first-round playoff clash against the Boston Celtics.
Even if the 32-year-old pro doesn’t catch fire from deep in the postseason, the Magic may attempt to get rid of him in free agency.
“Would it be that controversial to say the Orlando Magic made a mistake in signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last offseason,” Sir Charles in Charge’s Michael Saenz wrote last Sunday.
“With how inconsistent he’s been so far this season, I don’t think that’s unfair. Even though KCP played much better during the last month of the year, he certainly had his struggles.”
“At the very least, he hasn’t been the consistent, reliable veteran presence that Orlando believed he could be for them when they signed him.”
“I’m sure a strong performance in the NBA Playoffs could certainly change the narrative surrounding KCP this season, but if that doesn’t happen, I don’t believe it would be that outlandish to suggest that the Magic should probably explore the possibility of trading him during the offseason.”
“Opening up more than $20 million per season could go a long way in giving the Magic more flexibility to operate elsewhere.”
Considering Caldwell-Pope has already played alongside James in Los Angeles and has proven he can play his role to perfection on a championship-contending squad, it may not be a poor idea to consider targeting him in the offseason.
A trade package centered around Rui Hachimura could help the Lakers complete a respectable summer deal for Caldwell-Pope.
A Caldwell-Pope and Lakers free-agency reunion isn’t out of the equation.
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