Back in 2017, when the Los Angeles Lakers handed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a one-year, $18 million deal, plenty of eyebrows went up. At the time, KCP wasn’t seen as a game-changer-at least not on paper.
But what made the move buzzworthy was who represented him: Klutch Sports, the same agency that would later bring LeBron James to L.A. That signing wasn’t just about adding a wing; it was the first domino in a calculated shift that would eventually reshape the Lakers’ future.
Fast forward a few years, and it’s clear that early investment paid off. On the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast, Kellerman reflected on the moment, saying he was all-in on the Lakers’ Klutch partnership from the jump.
Why? Because it gave them something they hadn’t had in years-a real path to contention.
“Give Klutch whatever they want,” he recalled saying at the time. “They are going to wind up sending LeBron here.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
When LeBron arrived in 2018, the Lakers were far from the championship conversation. They weren’t a piece away-they were a roster overhaul away.
But LeBron changed the calculus overnight. Suddenly, L.A. had not just a star, but the star.
The ripple effects were immediate. The Lakers went from rebuilding to relevant, and within two seasons, they were hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the Orlando bubble.
That 2020 title run wasn’t just about LeBron and Anthony Davis-though they were the headliners. It was also about the depth around them, much of which came from the Klutch pipeline.
KCP played a pivotal role, spacing the floor and defending at a high level. JR Smith and Dion Waiters filled in where needed.
Talen Horton-Tucker showed flashes of promise. The roster was dotted with Klutch clients, and while that raised some questions in league circles, the results spoke for themselves.
Rich Paul has long pushed back on the idea that Klutch’s influence in L.A. was anything more than smart basketball business. From his perspective, it’s about fit-players want to win, and teams want players who fit their system.
Sometimes, those needs align through the same agency. And in this case, the alignment led to a championship.
Even the much-scrutinized KCP deal looks a lot different in hindsight. Sure, the Klutch connection helped open the door, but KCP wasn’t just a favor.
He was a reliable three-and-D wing-exactly the kind of player who complements LeBron’s game. His defense, floor spacing, and ability to stay within his role made him a valuable piece throughout that title run.
Now, the irony is hard to ignore. The Lakers, in their current state, could desperately use a player just like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
A steady, two-way wing who doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. That original Klutch bet not only brought LeBron to L.A.-it brought a title.
And in a league where championships are the only currency that matters, that’s a trade any franchise would make 10 times out of 10.