Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Phoenix’s next free agency steal
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is on the market!
The Phoenix Suns have had a disappointing time with NBA Free Agency.
After scheduling meetings with Clippers star Blake Griffin and former Hawks All-Star Paul Millsap, the Phoenix front office instead turned their attention to what is being called “The Timeline”, which has got to be a blatant knockoff of “The Process” in Philadelphia; though it’s valid, nonetheless.
#TheTimeline
The idea is that the organization is committing their full energy into the young core we know and love, rather than attempting to contend next season with veteran free agent signings in what is sure to be an absolute shootout in the Western Conference next year. Considering Jimmy Butler and Paul George are now in the mix, along with a Chris Paul/James Harden tandem that is bound to be dynamic, this seems like a smart idea from Ryan McDonough and the Phoenix Suns front office.
That is not to say that our Phoenix Suns are going to roll over and let all these super-teams beat them without a fight, however. This loaded young roster, including Tyler Ulis, Dragan Bender, 2017 lottery pick Josh Jackson, All-Rookie selection Marquese Chriss, and future superstar Devin Booker, is talented and explosive, and the only thing working against them is lack of experience. If these players stay together, the future is very bright. But what if the Suns could become even faster, more skilled and more dynamic than they are now?
Enter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
After the Avery Bradley-Marcus Morris trade went down between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons this morning, which occurred in order to clear cap space in Boston for Gordon Hayward, the Pistons formally renounced KCP, making him an unrestricted free agent. So far, the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Atlanta Hawks have all expressed interest in the young guard.
What About His Game?
KCP is one of the most underrated players in the league. In what many consider to be his breakout year, in the 2015-16 season he averaged 14.5 points per game, shot 42% from the field, and 31% from three, while also averaging 1.4 steals per game. Kentavious has tremendous speed, incredible athleticism, a beautiful shooting form, defensive prowess on the perimeter, is extremely strong for his size, and could even be compared to the Brazilian Blur himself, Suns legend Leandro Barbosa.
Kentavious Can Save-ious
Phoenix is already top heavy at guard, but KCP could be the perfect replacement for Brandon Knight. Yes, I’ve given up hope on Brandon Knight. To truly honor “The Timeline” the Suns need to trade Knight for some assets, or perhaps a new veteran presence to supplement Jared Dudley and Tyson Chandler, then sign Kentavious to be their sixth man. Sure, he has been a starter for most of his career in Detroit, but money talks, and KCP is worth a max deal.
He could be Phownix’s secret weapon – their Andre Iguodola. The sixth man position is not only about talent, but also an energetic and exciting presence that can make the bench just as good as the starting lineup.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope electrified the Detroit Pistons, and he can certainly bring a spark to the flame of a roster that is already soaring.
If Ryan McDonough is really committed to his philosophy, he should support the Suns’ bench by adding someone young enough to play well with Jackson, Booker, Ulis, Bender, and Chriss, but old enough to bring experience, playoff and otherwise, into Phoenix Suns basketball.