It’s time for the Los Angeles Lakers to take control of their immediate future by trading for a valuable win-now asset.
The 23-14 Western Conference team is slowly falling out of championship contention, which should prompt it to make a swift roster adjustment.
In an interesting trade idea created by the Athletic’s Dan Woike, the Lakers would bring back a 6-foot-6 fan favorite and NBA champion shooting guard.
“I’ve spoken with people around the league about a deal similar to this, with the Lakers sending out expiring money for Caldwell-Pope, who has a proven past as a postseason difference-maker,” Woike wrote Monday.
“At this stage, he’s more solid than anything else, and because of the $21 million player option he has for next season, a team might grab an asset or two if it helps Memphis get off some cash.”
“I like the general idea of a trade like this (Caldwell-Pope and two second-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for Gave Vincent and Maxi Kleber), with one big caveat: I’m not sure a second or two is worth eating into the cap space I’d preserved for the summer, when I’d have up to three first-round picks to acquire a player into that space.”
Caldwell-Pope has the luxury of stating he played a pivotal role in helping a LeBron James-led franchise capture an NBA championship.
In 2019-20, Caldwell-Pope, known for his useful three-and-D ability, contributed 9.3 points and 0.8 steals while shooting 46.7% from the field and 38.5% from long range on a Lakers squad that went the distance. Since leaving the Lakers in 2021, Caldwell-Pope’s production has been up and down.
The Georgia product is averaging 8.5 and 0.8 steals while connecting on 41.1% of his field goals and 35.6% of his triples with the Memphis Grizzlies this season, which should be considered a down year for the former first-round pick.
Still, considering Caldwell-Pope has an impressive track record in the big league, and the Lakers must find another two-way wing target after striking out on Herb Jones, a reunion could soon become a reality for the franchise.
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