On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers made their signing of shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope official. The fourth-year guard agreed to one-year, $18 million deal with the Lakers and checks all of the boxes Los Angeles was looking for in a free agent.
Caldwell-Pope is a good shooter from outside, is one of the better perimeter defenders in the league, and plays hard every single night. Additionally, at only 24 years old there is still room for growth. Caldwell-Pope is an ideal fit next to rookie point guard Lonzo Ball.
Ball has been lighting it up in Summer League and after the last game, a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, he spoke on what he knows about Caldwell-Pope. According to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, he can’t wait to team up with him:
Lonzo on Caldwell-Pope: "I know he’s a shooter & I know he can run so that’s going to work fine for me. Can’t wait to play w/ him"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 14, 2017
As Ball has shown already, his ability to see the floor and move the ball ahead quickly can really benefit his teammates and get them easy baskets. Caldwell-Pope will certainly be a beneficiary as Ball should be able to get him easy baskets and wide-open looks from three-point range.
Caldwell-Pope was a solid shooter from deep last year, knocking down 35 percent from three-point range, but that number could go up with more open looks that should be provided with the Lakers.
Now that the Lakers have filled their hole at shooting guard, the excitement and anticipation for next season continues to grow. Ball and Caldwell-Pope are a perfect match and could be the Lakers’ backcourt of the future if everything works out.