Lakers keep Caldwell-Pope with one-year deal

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on Sunday. He has signed a one-year, $12 million deal.

Caldwell-Pope is represented by Klutch Sports, the sports agency run by Rich Paul. Klutch Sports also represents LeBron James, who has been his agent since 2012, as well as other NBA players.

Klutch Sports also worked out a four-year deal between LeBron James and the Lakers on Sunday, which caused a huge reaction across the league. James, who will play in the Western Conference for the first-time this upcoming season, has the potential to earn $153.3 million over the four-year deal that also includes an option after the third season.

Besides Caldwell-Pope and James, the Lakers have also signed JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson in their free agency spree.

The 25-year-old will return to Los Angeles for his second season. The Georgia native averaged 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game through 74 games.

Caldwell-Pope missed time this past season, as he was in jail. He served a 25-day jail sentence during the season, as he violated his drug and alcohol screen program.

While he was a member of the Detroit Pistons, he pled guilty to a lesser charge from his March 2017 arrest. With the blessing from the Auburn Hills, Michigan law enforcement authorities, Caldwell-Pope was able to serve his jail sentence at the Seal Beach Police Department Dentation Center, which is 30-miles from the Staples Center, which also included a year probation.

Caldwell-Pope was not allowed to leave the state. Yet, he had to return to the facility after practice and games, as well as submitting to a breath test.

He spent four seasons with the Pistons before signing with the Lakers last summer. In 314 games, including 274 starts, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.