Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. He has the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group) as Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Since Caldwell-Pope is familiar with James and the Lakers, one NBA writer proposed that Los Angeles acquire the veteran small forward from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jacob Rude of SB Nation’s Silver Screen and Roll created the following trade idea between the Lakers and Grizzlies:
Memphis Grizzlies get: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber
Los Angeles Lakers get: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The Lakers traded Caldwell-Pope to the Washington Wizards in 2021 in the blockbuster Russell Westbrook trade. Caldwell-Pope only spent one season with the Wizards before getting traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2022. The swingman won the 2023 championship with the Nuggets, who swept James and the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
Caldwell-Pope signed a three-year, $66 million contract with the Orlando Magic in 2024 after spending two seasons in Denver. The Georgia native averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Magic last season while shooting 43.9% from the field, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 86.3% from the free-throw line.
Orlando traded Caldwell-Pope to the Grizzlies on June 15 in the Desmond Bane trade. Caldwell-Pope will make $21.6 million next season.Â
KCP has career averages of 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Detroit Pistons, Lakers, Wizards, Nuggets and Magic. He turns 33 next season.
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 postseason in five games. President of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka hasn’t made any trades this offseason, but he did sign Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart after losing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets in free agency.