Lakers Land Familiar 3-and-D Savior In New Trade Idea: Is He The Missing Piece?

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2025-26 season with a roster full of potential but lacking that final edge to make them true championship contenders.

While the additions of veteran guard Marcus Smart, big man Deandre Ayton, and versatile wing Jake LaRavia have bolstered the lineup, many fans and analysts agree that the team remains just shy of elite status.

A common refrain is that adding one or two reliable 3-and-D players could push the Lakers over the top a role that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or KCP, once filled with distinction.

Caldwell-Pope was a vital component of the Lakers 2020 NBA championship team, providing timely perimeter shooting and lockdown defense alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

After being traded in the blockbuster Russell Westbrook deal in 2021, KCP went on to win a second title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.

Now with the Memphis Grizzlies, some believe a reunion in Los Angeles could be mutually beneficial.

Jacob Rude of Silver Screen and Roll recently proposed a trade scenario sending Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber to Memphis in exchange for Caldwell-Pope.

Rude highlights the practical appeal of such a move: Lakers fans have seen how well KCP plays next to stars firsthand.

Even if his game has dropped off, hes still a 3&D wing and you can never have too many of those.

Its a far more useful way for the Lakers to spend their money than on Vincent and Kleber.

Is A KCP Reunion The Lakers Best Option? Lakers Land Familiar 3-and-D Savior In New Trade Idea: Is He The Missing Piece? 1 Isaiah J.

Downing-Imagn Images Support Our LA Firefighters In Style From the Grizzlies perspective, acquiring two expiring contractsVincent and Klebercould free up salary cap space while bringing in younger assets, whereas Caldwell-Pope carries a player option for the 2026-27 season, keeping his contract situation flexible.

Vincent, who averaged 6.4 points per game last season, and Kleber, limited by injury, may struggle for meaningful minutes on a Lakers roster now fortified with Smarts arrival.

Though Caldwell-Popes 3-point shooting has dipped recentlyfrom 38.7% during his Lakers tenure to 34.2% last seasonthere is optimism he could rebound playing alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Beyond shooting, his ability as a pesky team defender and an effective finisher on the break adds intangible value.

At 32 years old next season, he brings veteran savvy and familiarity with the Lakers system.

Despite the appeal, the Lakers front office appears cautious.

A Western Conference executive noted, They have not been attacking the trade market by any stretch of the imagination.

Most teams now are in a sort-of wait-and-see mode, and I would include the Lakers in that.

They want to give it some time before they make a trade.

This reflects a broader NBA trend of measured roster moves early in the offseason, especially for teams with established cores.

Lakers Land Familiar 3-and-D Savior In New Trade Idea: Is He The Missing Piece? 2 Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Lakers closed the 2024-25 season on a bittersweet note, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the first round of the playoffs.

Since then, general manager Rob Pelinka has made smaller, strategic signings rather than bold blockbuster trades.

The teams core remains largely intact, including young contributors like Jarred Vanderbilt, who has shown flashes on defense but has battled availability.

In this light, a return of Caldwell-Pope would blend sentiment with practicality: reconnecting with a proven veteran who understands the pressure and nuances of playing alongside the Lakers stars, while shoring up the perimeter defense and floor spacing the team desperately needs.

Such a move might not drastically alter the Lakers trajectory alone, but it would be a step closer to turning a very good roster into a championship-caliber one.

Ultimately, the Lakers approach this offseason seems grounded in patience, trusting that a blend of internal development, smart veteran additions, and possibly a well-timed trade will yield the right mix to compete at the highest level once again.

Caldwell-Popes potential return remains one of the most intriguing possibilities on that front..

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