There have been plenty of departures in the past week for the Los Angeles Lakers but they are making sure to keep one of the key pieces from their 2020 NBA Championship run, agreeing to a 3-year deal to return with the Lakers, worth $40 million, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Caldwell-Pope has a partial guarantee for the third year and the Lakers now have their starting shooting guard for the entirety of the playoffs back in the fold, alongside other backcourt mates Dennis Schröder and Wesley Matthews. The Lakers also bolstered their frontcourt earlier in free agency with the acquisition of fellow Klutch Sports player Montrezl Harrell.
Third year for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Lakers contains a partial guarantee, sources say. The deal gives him a $15M average salary over next two seasons and $68M guaranteed over five years — and last year's championship ring soon. https://t.co/LssARAoEpV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 22, 2020
Among the many happy parties is LeBron James, who tweeted his happiness for Caldwell-Pope on Saturday night shortly after news broke of the deal.
YESSIR @CaldwellPope!!!! Congrats my brother
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 22, 2020
Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.7 points per game in the playoffs, shooting 37.8% from the 3-point line on nearly 6 attempts per game. With his consistency throughout the postseason, Caldwell-Pope was arguably the third or fourth-best player on the Lakers during their playoff run. And now they have him back, with an even better squad.
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