Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is now a Los Angeles Laker.
The former Detroit Pistons guard had his rights renounced by the team that drafted him earlier in July After the Pistons traded for Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley. As the young shooting guard looked to sign a new deal it appears the market for Caldwell-Pope was not quite what he expected.
Caldwell-Pope is just 24 and was probably looking for a multi-year deal, likely similar to what contemporaries Allen Crabbe and Dion Waiters signed in recent years.
But according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Caldwell-Pope will sign a deal for just one year at $18 million with the Lakers.
Via Twitter:
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal with the Lakers, sources tell ESPN.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 12, 2017
Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per-game last year for the Pistons. He will join a new look Lakers that includes Brook Lopez and Lonzo Ball.
While this deal probably wasn’t quite what Caldwell-Pope’s camp was expecting, it also perhaps is telling for what the Lakers expect Paul George to do after his one season in Oklahoma City is up.