With the LeBron James era officially in full swing, sixth-year shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has become the odd man out for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 25-year-old is reportedly on the team’s trading block, but according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, a potential move to the Philadelphia 76ers might not come to fruition with the Lakers not wanting to take a salary dump from the Sixers.
I reported in November that the Sixers had interest in Lakers wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but the Lakers are unwilling to take on any future salary, which makes Philly a tough match.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is currently on a one-year, $12 million deal that is set to expire after this season. He is still considered by many as a valuable wing asset, and with his services deemed surplus for the current Lakers side, the team’s front office has been looking for a way to benefit from this current situation.
The arrival of Jimmy Butler did cement the Sixers as a serious contender for the title this season, but many believe that the team is still missing a few pieces. This might be where Caldwell-Pope and his career 1.6 3-pointers per game might come in handy. He would not exactly be a one-for-one replacement for Robert Covington, but his shooting would definitely help the Sixers.
Unfortunately, it appears that Philadelphia does not have much to offer for the Lakers. President Magic Johnson seems to have a very specific road map in place, and a salary dump does not figure in his plans.
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News