Seems like The King is happy The Pope is staying in Los Angeles. Taking to Twitter following the Lakers signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a new 3-year, $40 million contract, LeBron James gave his congratulations and his support for the new contract.
YESSIR @CaldwellPope!!!! Congrats my brother
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 22, 2020
Caldwell-Pope was originally on a 2-year, $16.6 million deal he signed prior to the 2019 season with a player option after this past season, which he declined, looking to get more money. His gamble has paid off with a new contract that will pay him 50% more this season than his original contract.
While he will never be the star of a team, Caldwell-Pope proved himself as an important cog to the Lakers championship winning team last season, shooting a career-best 38.5% from long distance during the regular season. His 92 made 3-pointers was the third most on the team.
During the playoffs he averaged 10.7 points per game and scored 17 points in the series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Miami Heat.
Caldwell-Pope, 27, is heading into his eighth season in the NBA. He started his career with the Detroit Pistons after being drafted by them with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He played four seasons in Detroit before moving to Los Angeles.
The Lakers are coming off of winning their 17th NBA Championship in franchise history and the first in a decade. Especially following Klay Thompson's injury on the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers are once again considered the favorite to win the NBA Title in 2021, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be a big piece in the Lakers repeat attempt.
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