NBA: Former Top Pick Says LeBron Agent Had No Influence On Re-Signing

KEY POINTS

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope says he re-signed with Lakers on his own
KCP says player agent had no hand in his return
Caldwell-Pope could stil be dealt off if needed by the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking pretty good with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the lead. However, it remains that the purple and gold would not be where they are without the reserves. One name that comes to mind is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Originally acquired in 2017 by the Lakers, critics felt that KCP would not be last long in Hollywood. In fact, he has been the subject of trade talks and would have joined former Lakers traded to the New Orleans Pelicans for Davis earlier this year. Surprisingly, he was kept but most saw him leaving the last offseason. It never happened.

Instead, Caldwell-Pope was given a two-year $16.5 million deal. It was a bit of a surprise to many although some took note of the fact that he was under the same person handling James and Davis - Rich Paul. In the eyes of some, it was because of this that he is still in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old spoke on the matter with the OC Register and explained that it was his decision alone.

“I wanted to be back, but with my agent, went through the process of free agency,” he said. “Pros and cons, where I wanna be. It was all about what I wanted, and we just took it from there. … But this decision was mine to make, and we just landed together.”

For the 2019-20 NBA season, Caldwell-Pope has been turning in respectable numbers. A look at Basketball-Reference.com reveals him averaging 9.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 37 games. Though these are a tad below his career averages, it would be understandable. With most of the focus on James and Davis, those are acceptable numbers from the former Georgia Bulldogs standout.

It will be interesting if stays on with the Lakers who are exploring trade possibilities. KCP had his best years with the Detroit Pistons, particularly during the 2015-16 NBA season. He has shown that he can still step up for Los Angeles when needed. But if the purple and gold end up wanting another superstar in the mix, Caldwell-Pope may just find himself moving but only if needed.

Until that happens, expect the 6-foot-5 guard to contribute to the Lakers' current NBA campaign. He is one of the overlooked players on the team, one of the reasons why the Lakers are having a great year.