Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will hope to test the free agency market and become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason as he recently declined his player option for the 2020-2021 NBA season, as per The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.

The seven-year veteran increased his level of productivity in the Orlando Bubble as he bumped his scoring average from 9.3 ppg in the regular season to 10.7 ppg as a starter for the Lakers all throughout the 2020 NBA Playoffs. He was also able to showcase his capability to drain shots especially after tallying career-best outputs of 46.7 field goal shooting percentage while shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc last season.

He emerged to be an instrumental piece in the Lakers' championship run which was highlighted in a pivotal Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat when he scored five straight points late in the fourth quarter to help his team pull away and seal the 102-96 win.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to get limited touches if he decides to stay put with the Purple and Gold especially with the looming arrival of a scoring playmaker like Dennis Schroder ahead of the 2020-2021 NBA season. He is set to make $8.4 million with the option this season but could potentially land a bigger contract with another team.

His defensive prowess and shot-making abilities on the floor along with him being a veteran presence in the locker room will prove to be integral for any team that is willing to acquire his services next season.

The Lakers are also expected to make a run for other veteran guards in anticipation of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's possible departure as he is poised to test free agency in the offseason.