After making a name for himself with the Detroit Pistons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got a chance to push his chips to the center of the table with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Lakers are successful in finishing up the NBA Finals against a scruffy Miami Heat squad, he'll be heading into the offseason with a player option that will require some tough choices.
With the conclusion of the playoffs come the inevitable decisions that every free agent must make in the offseason. After showing his talents on the big stage, Caldwell-Pope will definitely command a salary that belittles the contract that he's in now. He's seen a decent bump in his field goal percentage this year, shooting 46 percent throughout the regular season.
Based on numbers gathered from Spotrac, Caldwell-Pope is entering a player option at the conclusion of this season. By opting in, he cuts himself short of making the most out of his production, going from the $8 million he earned this year to only $8.4 million next year. In short, that's an option that's liable not to happen.
Shortly after winning the championship with the Lakers, in the assumption that they can close out the series, Caldwell-Pope and his agent will begin looking for the best deals available for the sharpshooter, assuming that the Lakers don't offer him a better one after opting out.
Here are five of the best teams for Caldwell-Pope to land on in the event that he opts out of his current deal.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers will surely be looking to shake things up in the offseason. Newly hired head coach Doc Rivers had to save face with the press about the state of the roster he currently has, but that doesn't mean that he hasn't already consorted with Elton Brand on ways to improve the team.
One area that they'll obviously be focusing on is shooting, which is where Caldwell-Pope thrives. The Sixers didn't enjoy their best season in terms of knocking down shots…or frankly anything else.
4. Indiana Pacers
Regardless if the rumors are true or false of Victor Oladipo wishing to find a new team better suited for his talents, the Pacers could always use another shooter. T.J. Warren set the NBA bubble ablaze with his performances before being ousted by long-time rival Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. However, his performances may not transition to the restart of in-arena games played in front of fans.
The Pacers haven't had a true shooting guard in a while, which is where Caldwell-Pope could be of huge aid.
3. Brooklyn Nets
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has already played with the likes of King James, so adjusting to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant shouldn't be much of a problem. After signing with the Nets, KCP would be immediately thrusted into yet another environment built for immediate contention and a trip to the NBA Finals once more.
It's highly unlikely that he starts with Spencer Dinwiddie taking up the off guard position alongside Irving, but even coming off the bench puts Caldwell-Pope in a great position to continue his production from 3-point range.
2. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have a flurry of decisions awaiting them at the beginning of offseason. If they find themselves becoming buyers after failing to retain Fred VanVleet in free agency, they could make a move for the 27-year-old Caldwell-Pope to beef up their shooting. VanVleet starred alongside Kyle Lowry in the backcourt, leaving that spot open upon his departure.
Head coach Nick Nurse would more than likely see that spot go to Caldwell-Pope, unless a player from the bench proved himself otherwise in training camp. Though not as entertaining as the Nets, he would still find himself in the mix of a somewhat challenging Eastern Conference next season.
1. Golden State Warriors
Make no mistake about it, the Warriors will return to their immaculate ways as they enter the 2020-21 season. Stephen Curry has fully healed from his broken hand, and Klay Thompson has returned after a devastating torn ACL.
After resigning Thompson to a max contract in the 2019 offseason, the Warriors will be looking to bring on meaningful players that'll push the Bay Area club back into contender status.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could provide meaningful minutes off the bench for a team known for their shooting abilities. After losing many of their pieces over the years to higher asking prices, the Warriors should keep an eye out for Caldwell-Pope, who just may be looking for a change of scenery.
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