Heat, 76ers and Thunder have interest in trading for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

As we inch closer to Dec. 15, it’s looking more and more likely that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won’t be on the Los Angeles Lakers past the trade deadline. Luckily, he has a handful of contending teams interested in trading for his services.

Along with the previously reported Houston Rockets, Caldwell-Pope has also garnered interest from the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN (via Mason and Ireland):

“It sounds like Houston has the biggest need right now, but I’ve heard other teams like Miami and Philadelphia, Oklahoma City. I’ve heard other teams have interest in him, but that’s for him and his agent, Rich Paul, to get to the bottom of.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard whispers of Philadelphia’s interest in Caldwell-Pope. Last month, Kevin O’Connor reported that the Sixers “have eyes for” KCP.

This is, however, the first time the Heat and the Thunder have been linked to Caldwell-Pope. Unfortunately, Miami and OKC seem like an unlikely trade partners, at least in an outright deal for KCP.

In order for the Thunder or the Heat to trade for Caldwell-Pope, they’d have to send back an expiring contract or two to match his $12 million salary. That’s something neither of them have.

The only real way they could get in the mix for KCP is if they emerged as the third team in the rumored three-team deal involving KCP and Trevor Ariza. That would assume, though, the Phoenix Suns would be interested in taking back undesirable, long-term deals.

If that’s something they would be interested in, Tyler Johnson or Dennis Schroder could be the answer for the Suns at point guard, at least in the short term.

Whichever team ends up with Caldwell-Pope will get a young and athletic two-way guard. As shown by the amount of teams interested in him, thats something plenty of organizations around the league value.

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