The Los Angeles Lakers have not made any significant moves to start the free agency period but that could change soon. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the team has significant interest in signing free agent shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Caldwell-Pope was a restricted free agent until Friday morning when the Detroit Pistons rescinded their qualifying offer in order to clear up cap space. That means that the Pistons cannot match offers for the defensive ace.
According to Woj, the Lakers are still hoping to sign players to one-year deal, making that the condition for KCP’s addition to the roster.
Sources: If Caldwell-Pope's willing to do a one-year balloon deal, the Los Angeles Lakers have significant interest in pursuing him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2017
Caldwell-Pope is known mostly for his defensive chops, something the Lakers need dearly. But he has also shown promise as an offensive player, hitting 35 percent of his threes last season. The Lakers would be hoping that playing alongside a playmaker in Lonzo Ball could made Caldwell-Pope a more efficient player.
The Lakers have not had any luck in signing the players they’ve had reported interest in, making this report somewhat insignificant. It’s entirely possible that KCP’s camp is using the Lakers as leverage in hopes of securing a big and long-term payday elsewhere.
But with options becoming scarce for the Pistons guard, it’s also entirely possible that he is willing to take a one-year deal in hopes of hitting free-agency again next year.
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