The Detroit Pistons seemingly had one job this off-season — keep their rising shooting guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope is an excellent defender and three-point shooter and although he had a down year, he was still thought of as a key part of the Pistons' future. However, things turned out differently.
Pistons' highest offer to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was 5 years, $80 million, per source. Salary "wasn't even close" to what KCP is seeking.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 7, 2017
In the end, per Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated, the highest offer the Pistons were ready to offer to their restricted free agent was $80 million over five years. KCP rejected that offer, clearly thinking he is worth the four-year, $100 million max other teams were able to offer.
In the end, the Pistons sent forward Marcus Morris to Boston in exchange for guard Avery Bradley and renounced their rights to Caldwell-Pope, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The one team that was apparently interested in Pope was the Brooklyn Nets, but the Nets currently have no way to offer KCP a contract. As things stand right now, the Nets have an offer sheet signed by forward Otto Porter, which the Wizards have not formally responded to. Due to this, the New York-based franchise is unable to give Pope what he wants financially.
In the meantime, an unlikely suitor for Pope came up — the Lakers. According to a report from earlier today, the Lakers were ready to offer Caldwell-Pope a huge deal — but it has to be a one-year deal.
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