Brooklyn Nets Expected to Go After Kentavious Caldwell-Pope This Offseason

By Noriel See, Christian Post Contributor Friday, March 24, 2017

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope isn't going to light up the scoreboard like C. J. McCollum and Bradley Beal. He's not going to fill up the stat sheet like James Harden. So, how come he's such an important player for the Detroit Pistons?

Well, every time he steps into the court, Caldwell-Pope turns it up a notch on the defensive end. He does this night in and night out and he should receive All-Defensive team votes again this season. He's one of the best 3-and-D players in the league right now and the Brooklyn Nets have certainly noticed how good he is.

According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, the Nets have made Caldwell-Pope one of their top targets this offseason and they will try to pry him away from the Pistons once he hits the free-agent market. With $33 million in salary cap space, the Nets can give Caldwell-Pope a max contract and that will put the Pistons in a bind.

"Caldwell-Pope, 24, will be a restricted free agent, after he demanded more than $20 million annually and no deal was reached. The Vertical reported Detroit doesn't want to give him a max contract, but it may not have a choice. The Post has confirmed the Nets' interest and ESPN intimated they would go that high to get him," Lewis said in his report.

"The Nets can offer Caldwell-Pope a four-year, $103 million offer, but Detroit can offer a five-year deal and still not hit the luxury tax," he continued.

Okay, Caldwell-Pope is really good on defense and he's getting better on the offensive end as well. But is he worth a max contract? A lot of people will probably agree that player salaries are getting ridiculously high due to the soaring salary cap and Caldwell-Pope can really cash in this offseason.

The Nets may go after him in the offseason, but the Pistons can match any offer he receives. One thing is for sure, though. Caldwell-Pope is going to get a lot of money this summer wherever he signs.