Lakers Almost Reunited With 38% 3PT Menace In Talks With Rival

The Grizzlies landed Caldwell-Pope after flipping Desmond Bane to the Magic. They then looked to shed more salary to extend Jaren Jackson Jr. The Lakers interest in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made sense. They needed a proven point-of-attack defender badly. On paper, Caldwell-Pope fit perfectly.

He knows the Lakers inside out. Caldwell-Pope spent four seasons in purple and gold and won a championship in the 2020 bubble. He also lifted another trophy with Denver in 2023 after eliminating the Lakers in the conference finals. Familiarity? Check.

A Dip But Not Done

Last season with the Magic, Caldwell-Pope posted his lowest scoring average since his rookie campaign. He put up 8.7 points on shaky 43.9/34.2/86.3 splits. His three-point shooting dipped to its lowest mark since year three. However, context matters. The Magic’s cramped spacing didn’t help his outside shooting.

When the floor opens, Caldwell-Pope thrives. He shot 38% from deep with the Lakers, over 41% with Denver, and 39% with Washington. There’s enough evidence to believe last season was an outlier.

Money Talks, Timing Kills

Caldwell-Pope still has two years on his declining deal with a player option. The Lakers’ pursuit of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope likely hit a wall because the team wants max cap space for 2026. Any move that eats into that flexibility won’t happen unless it’s an absolute must.

The Lakers were serious about adding Caldwell-Pope but timing killed it. Marcus Smart arrived instead. The Lakers believe he solves their defense-first backcourt need for now.

Never Say Never

For now, the door on the Lakers and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reunion is shut. But things change fast in Los Angeles. If injuries or roster gaps appear, the front office might pick up the phone again. Caldwell-Pope knows how to win here. That alone makes him a name to watch if the Lakers want one more push.

Smart roster moves now mean bigger swings later. For now, the Lakers bet on Smart. But the Caldwell-Pope chapter isn’t fully closed. In Hollywood, sequels always get pitched.