Sacramento Kings: Adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Isn’t A Priority
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to acquire assets for a run this season. One move they should be making is trading away Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP). The Sacramento Kings shouldn’t be one of those teams inquiring about his services.
The Kings are one of the most surprising team’s of the NBA season. It appears they will be buyers as the trade deadline approaches. If the Lakers are dangling KCP on the market, it makes little sense for the Kings to go after him. There’s just little incentive to trade away premium talent.
Given the current situation at shooting guard with Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Kings are set at the position. They don’t need another shooter to come in and demand the ball. Seeing as Hield and Bogdanovic average a combined 27.6 shots a game, the volume won’t be there for KCP. In addition, there’s the additional 13.2 shots that Point Guard, De’Aaron Fox, puts up.
Pope is having his worst year since his rookie season. With LeBron, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and others on the Lakers team, he’s not getting the minutes or shot attempts he once was. With only 6.8 per game, he’s somewhat adjusted to his role as bench player. Something he’d prefer not to be.
KCP currently has a 15.9 % usage rate. Hield (24.7 %), Bogdanovic(23.4%) and Fox (24.4%), are there of the Kings for leaders in this category. In addition, Marvin Bagley comes in with a 22.9% rate. There’s not a lot of ball for KCP to have on offense given these players on the court. He’d likely settle for a role on the bench behind Frank Mason, not what the Kings need at this point.
Sacramento needs a rim protector. Willie Cauley-Stein is just way too inconsistent. Caldwell-Pope can’t contribute in that category. It’s unwise for the Kings to add more shooting to team that already has so many shooters. KCP is only on a one-year deal, and while it’ll be an expiring contract, there are just more important deals to be made this season.
With Hield, Bogdanovic, and Fox putting up 41 shots a game, there’s not much KCP can add. You can’t take the ball out of the their hands. Other players, who play pivotal roles on the team, need shots and court time as well. Iman Shumpert is the locker room leader. His presence on the court is what makes the Sacramento team go. You can’t cut his playing time for KCP.
I’ll say this about KCP. If the Kings can acquire him at an extremely cheap cost (which won’t happen, seeing as the Lakers want contributors for a title run) you make a deal. Having too much depth isn’t an issue. At the cost Los Angeles will want him for, it’s just not worth it to give up a player who plays a role, or, one who can get the team a consistent rim protector.
Caldwell-Pope is a good player. He’s a natural scorer. The Sacramento Kings already have a few of those. It would increase the scoring attack, but it’s not essential the team go out and address that. KCP is merely a depth option. Sacramento doesn’t need to make a priority trying to acquire him.
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
