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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James credited former Georgia Bulldog great Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for helping the Lakers win an NBA Championship this past season. Los Angeles defeated the Miami Heat in a six-game series, where Caldwell-Pope was often Los Angeles’ third option behind James and Anthony Davis.
Following the Lakers’ championship, Caldwell-Pope was set to enter free agency. He earned leverage after his impressive postseason and had interest from numerous teams in the NBA. Now, per The Athletics’ Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers are re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three year, $40M deal.
Caldwell-Pope is set to make an average of $15M over the next two seasons, and he has a partially guaranteed third year in the contract. He’ll look to win more championships in Los Angeles.
James congratulated his teammate on his new deal via his Twitter account:
YESSIR @CaldwellPope!!!! Congrats my brother
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 22, 2020
The Lakers are happy whenever James is happy, so it is a great deal for L.A., which will still have a large role for Caldwell-Pope.
Here’s how the basketball world reacted to Caldwell-Pope’s new contract with the Lakers:
OFFICIAL: @CaldwellPope is back for more ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/FT6AlBhLnq
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 23, 2020
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will re-sign a three-year, $40M deal with the Lakers, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/4NAxmpIQvD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 22, 2020
Lakers bring back KCP, and save a little bit of money for the midseason buyout market and this an A-level offseason for Rob Pelinka.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) November 21, 2020
So they clown us for signing Rondo, Bradley, KCP
Now their teams want them all… funny
— NBA Champion Talen Horton-Tucker – Job Finished (@LakeShowSeason) November 21, 2020
BREAKING: KCP RESIGNING WITH THE LAKERS!!!!
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 22, 2020
This lineup is already a little bit outdated, but the Lakers are looking stacked:
Dennis Schroder
Wes Matthews
KCP
LeBron James
Montrezl Harrell
Anthony Davis
Kyle Kuzma
Alex Caruso
THT
Javale McGee #LakeShow— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) November 22, 2020
We really celebrating KCP coming back to the Lakers, we've came a long way.
— Ahmed๐ธ๐ด/SAINt JHN the best out (@big_business_) November 22, 2020
Sources: Both the Lakers and free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are interested in getting a deal done, but it is now a numbersโ game. KCP looking for raise from the $8.4 million he opted out from.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) November 21, 2020
Lakers gave KCP a crazy overpay 3 years ago, that sort of started this relationship with Klutch. So it comes full circle.
— Ry (@JustRyCole) November 21, 2020
KCP was consistently the third best player on a title team. Please get out of here with the over paid stuff.
— UnwrittenRules (@UnwrittenRul3s) November 22, 2020
KCP going from most hated laker to fan favorite >> pic.twitter.com/hrvH1nvYAP
— ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ (@lakerhov) November 22, 2020
Had to find a way to bring KCP back. He def got a nice contract (3 yrs $40 mil), but he'll be a KEY piece. He fits well on this team, plays both sides of the ball & is only 27yrs old…
What you guys think?
— Allen Sliwa (@AllenSliwa) November 22, 2020
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