Los Angeles Lakers starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is declining his player option and will test free agency, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reports.
Charania adds that Caldwell-Pope is “expected to have several suitors at (the) start of free agency — and teams are under (the) impression he’s open to offers.” According to Spotrac.com, Caldwell-Pope would have earned just over $8.4 million in salary had he accepted the player option.
The 27-year-old is coming off his third season with the Lakers and his lowest scoring season since his rookie campaign. In 69 games, only 26 as a starter, he averaged 9.3 points on 46 per cent shooting including 38 per cent from three-point range. He did improve his scoring in the playoffs, however, starting all 21 games on the Lakers’ title run and averaging 10.7 points per game on 42-per cent shooting.
Over seven seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Lakers, he has averaged 11.7 points on 42-per cent shooting in 519 regular-season games.
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