Lakers Free Agency Frenzy Day 2

The "Pope" is back!

Day 2 of the NBA Free Agency is in the books. We expected some more key losses on the Lakers' front and we got those today. Remember, the Lakers traded for Dennis Schroder to get younger and to mitigate the big losses the Lakers will get in terms of their backcourt personnel. Despite some of those losses, the Lakers still rebounded and brought back a guy who'll be an integral piece for many years to come. Let's break down some of these transactions.

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Avery Bradley --> MIA, 2 years, $11.3M

Comment: AB was the first domino to fall today. I wouldn't say I'm surprised by this. The Lakers brought him in to defend the best perimeter players and for the most part, his role was pretty consistent prior to the suspension of the NBA Season. We all know what happened regarding his decision to withdraw from the NBA restart. Again, I'm not going to hold that against him. At least he was open to come back. It's just that I don't think that the Lakers would've offered him this kind of contract that he's getting with the Miami Heat. The Heat have pretty much bolstered their perimeter defense by adding Bradley to the team. And they strengthen their scoring and shooting as he can have a knack to go off at times. But, his niche is defense and pairing him along with Jimmy Butler? That's an underrated defensive tandem right there in a franchise that instills defense into their culture.

Rajon Rondo --> ATL, 2 years, $15M

Comment: When the Lakers traded for Dennis Schroder, we knew right then and there that Rondo is expendable. Rondo was huge from the 2nd round onwards in the Lakers' championship run in the NBA Bubble. With LeBron and Rondo on the same team, it was like cheating the system when you have two guys who have unbelievable basketball IQ on the same floor. The only knack is he's not as durable as he was before, having extended periods of absence due to injury. But to get him back in the postseason was great timing and "Playoff Rondo" is as advertised. The Hawks just got a guy who can help Trae Young take that next step as a floor general point guard. It's quite surprising since Rondo was rumored that his preferred destination is to a playoff team. But, the Atlanta Hawks are on the come-up in the East and Rondo's rationale is to secure the last big payday before he declines even further. He's got nothing to prove at this point. He's won championships with two storied franchises. That's more than enough. At least he didn't go to the Clippers. Thanks Rondo for giving your all to the purple and gold!

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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - 3 years, $40M

Comment: With Danny Green traded. Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo going elsewhere, the Lakers are well on their way to have a revamped backcourt. But bringing back KCP is huge for this team to bring some stability. It's a love-hate relationship with KCP since he first got here in 2017. When he does terrible, he's "Kentavious Caldwell-Poop." But the way he rebounded in the postseason after dropping a goose egg in the beginning swayed public opinion about him. KCP was the X-Factor in the Finals run, hitting clutch shots after clutch shots. I would say he's earned this contract extension after signing multiple 1-year deals and a 2-year deal with a player option. The thing about is, he's only 27 years old. He still has a lot of years left in him and he flashed potential as an integral role player and a guy who's not afraid of the big moment. Don't let the numbers fool you, he's a pesky defender as evident in his playing days in Detroit. The Lakers and Klutch Sports have done it again. We all must remember, KCP signing with the Lakers back in 2017 planted the seeds for LeBron, AD, and the unholy alliance with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports that is unfolding this year before our very eyes. 

TrueRaiderLaker Productions #11! - 2017-18 Lakers - "The Restoration Plan"

"You know MechG2994, your last hype video with the Raiders was pretty damn epic. I was so pumped up for the season to start when I saw that. Without a doubt, it's your best hype video ever."

"Hey, how about giving the Lakers a hype video like that too? It needs some epicness to it. I'm excited for basketball season to start."

Ask and you shall receive. With no further introduction I present to you TrueRaiderLaker Productions #11 - 2017-18 Lakers "The Restoration Plan!"

Description

The conversation above wasn't real, but it certainly left me to think. I'm coming off making an epic hype video about the Raiders, using an epic song by Hi Finesse. When I was pondering about a Lakers video, I at first thought about using some rap. But, that's not the way to follow up an epic hype video! And then it dawned me and asked myself, "hey, why not an encore with Hi Finesse?" 

My latest third Raiders hype video had a lot of storytelling involved. From the clinching the playoff spot to Carr's injury to prepping for a Super Bowl (which is looking bleak at the moment. I wanted to replicate the same storytelling element to the Lakers' incoming first season under the Magic-Pelinka regime.

The last five years under Jim Buss were tough for us Laker fans. There was no long-term contingency plan when Kobe decided to hang it up. After Kobe retired, it was the opportune time for Jim and Mitch Kupchak to build for the future. They did right by hiring Luke Walton and drafting Brandon Ingram in last year's draft. But signing Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov to mega contracts signaled the demise of the Jim Buss-Mitch Kupchak era. In comes Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to right the wrongs. They tell us there's a plan in place and they're making moves to restore the Lakers to greatness. They're starting off on the right foot trading for Brook Lopez, signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a reasonable contract, and drafting Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. Ball and Kuzma carried the Lakers to a Summer League championship and they will look to build up that confidence in the regular season along with Ingram, Clarkson, Randle, Nance, KCP, and Lopez,. Whether Magic and Pelinka's plan succeeds or fails remains in question. One thing's for certain, they are unified with a common long-term plan to return the Lakers to its former glory. That plan starts on Thursday Night vs. the Clippers. This video is a visual presentation of a restoration plan in motion. Enjoy this 2 minute fury Laker Nation.

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Official thumbnail of the video featuring a landscape view of L.A. and Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram all drenched in Purple and Gold. ("But, where's Kyle Kuzma?") 

Lakers Agree on 1-Year Contract with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

A free agent signing for the Lakers! Finally! The news broke out half an hour ago that the Lakers and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have come to terms to a one year, $18 million deal. Prior to this, KCP was an restricted free agent for the Detroit Pistons. They renounced his rights, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Pistons offered him a 5-year deal of more than $60 million to keep him around in Detroit, but he turned it down. And the Lakers swooped him in after a meeting earlier today. As much criticism that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka were taking for not luring any free agents, they played their cards well with the limited cap room they have. This is a very underrated signing. The Lakers get a young talent who not only is a capable scorer and three point shooter, but he is a really solid defender. At worst, I thought the Lakers would roll the dice with their shaky Shooting Guard depth of JC and Josh Hart.  The addition of KCP puts to rest my concerns about that uncertainty. He is a perfect compliment that should minimize Lonzo Ball's weaknesses on defense. 

Now that KCP has signed on, I'm interested on how much cap room the Lakers still have. I hear they are still trying to lure Rondo to the team. According to this interesting "Salary Cap Picture" article, the Lakers had $18.7 million in cap space since the D'Lo-Mozgov trade. If we plug in KCP's deal, the team would have $700K in cap space left. Rondo should be signed no more at the Vets' minimum if that's the case. But back to the KCP signing, this is an excellent signing from Magic and Rob. This further boosts the youth movement that the Lakers are exercising with their young core. Welcome to LA, KCP!