Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Explored Trades for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Donte DiVincenzo, Talks Stalled With Timberwolves and Others

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to explore aggressive trade options this offseason in an effort to retool their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Lakers recently engaged in exploratory trade discussions involving two notable names—Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Donte DiVincenzo—targeting potential deals with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively.

Sources indicate that the Lakers’ interest in Caldwell-Pope was piqued shortly after he was initially floated in a three-team trade scenario involving the Orlando Magic and Desmond Bane. Although that particular trade did not materialize, it opened the door for the Lakers to revisit the possibility of bringing back KCP, a former starter on their 2020 championship team.

The reported discussions with Memphis around Caldwell-Pope were described as “preliminary” but “substantive,” suggesting that the Lakers were exploring avenues to reunite with a trusted veteran who brings elite perimeter defense and three-point shooting. Caldwell-Pope, currently under contract after signing with the Denver Nuggets in 2022 before landing in Memphis via trade, remains a desirable asset across the league due to his playoff pedigree and two-way impact.

While those talks appeared to have some legs, the same could not be said for the Lakers’ attempt to pry Donte DiVincenzo away from the Timberwolves. Per Siegel, Minnesota “immediately turned down” any notion of including DiVincenzo in trade discussions, signaling their firm stance on keeping the sharpshooting guard, who enjoyed a breakout campaign last season with the New York Knicks before being rerouted to Minnesota in a separate trade earlier this summer.

DiVincenzo’s value is likely at its peak following a season in which he averaged career highs in points and three-point efficiency. For a Minnesota squad aiming to build on its Western Conference Finals run, the 27-year-old guard is seen as a crucial piece moving forward, especially as the team looks to ease the offensive burden on Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.

For the Lakers, these failed or paused discussions underline both their current sense of urgency and the challenges of executing major roster changes in a competitive trade market. General Manager Rob Pelinka is said to be exploring multiple paths to retool the Lakers’ supporting cast, which struggled with consistency and perimeter defense in the 2024-25 season.

Adding another twist, Siegel also clarified a lingering rumor involving the Phoenix Suns. Despite persistent speculation from fans and some outlets, there have been “zero recent trade conversations” between the Lakers and Suns. In fact, according to sources close to the situation, the two teams haven’t engaged in serious dialogue since before Deandre Ayton signed with Los Angeles earlier in the offseason.

That Ayton move, while one of the Lakers’ splashier additions, reportedly ended what little traction previously existed between the two Pacific Division rivals. At the time, the Lakers had been exploring several big-man options, including a brief flirtation with Hornets center Nick Richards. But no deal was struck with Phoenix, and the front office has since shifted its focus elsewhere.

Bringing back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would represent a full-circle moment for the Lakers, who originally acquired him in 2017. During his first stint in Los Angeles, he was a steady hand on the perimeter and a crucial cog in the 2020 NBA Championship run inside the Orlando bubble. His departure in 2021 in the trade that brought Russell Westbrook to L.A. was widely viewed as one of the team’s bigger miscalculations of recent years.

His veteran presence and championship experience are precisely the kind of assets the Lakers believe could stabilize a locker room that has been in flux since that title run. However, acquiring him would require maneuvering through cap space limitations and potential draft compensation that Memphis would demand in return.

The DiVincenzo pursuit, though short-lived, sheds light on the Lakers’ desire to add youth and shooting around LeBron and AD. With DiVincenzo off the table and Caldwell-Pope’s availability still in question, Los Angeles may need to pivot once again.

League sources believe the Lakers could circle back to other previous targets, including Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith or Toronto’s Bruce Brown Jr., both of whom offer a mix of defensive versatility and three-point capability. While nothing has progressed on those fronts either, the Lakers are not expected to stand pat.

Meanwhile, the Lakers’ internal evaluation process continues. Dalton Knecht, their 2024 first-round draft pick, has reportedly generated trade interest from other teams but remains a potential rotation piece moving forward. His ability to contribute immediately—or serve as a sweetener in a larger deal—remains a key question as Los Angeles weighs win-now moves against long-term sustainability.

The lack of movement with Phoenix stands in contrast to earlier reports suggesting mutual interest. Prior to Ayton’s arrival, the Lakers had kept a close eye on several Suns assets, including Jusuf Nurkić and Grayson Allen. But those talks fizzled quickly once Phoenix prioritized internal continuity, and Ayton’s shift to Los Angeles essentially shut the door.

The Lakers’ pursuit of Nick Richards earlier in the offseason, now revisited through the context of their big-man strategy, also speaks volumes about their frontcourt focus. While Ayton helps anchor the interior, the team is still believed to be exploring depth options, particularly with injury concerns surrounding Anthony Davis.

As of now, no further traction has been reported in deals involving Richards or any Suns role players. But with training camp approaching and the Lakers’ roster still in flux, front-office activity is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.

One team executive, speaking anonymously, described the Lakers as “determined and deliberate” in their approach. “They know they’re on the clock with LeBron,” the source said. “They’re not going to rush into a bad deal, but they also know they need to upgrade. They’ll keep probing.”

With the Western Conference only growing more competitive—especially after Denver’s retooling, Minnesota’s rise, and Oklahoma City’s continued surge—the margin for error is thin. The Lakers are navigating not just trade value and fit, but timing and trust.

While the names being discussed—Caldwell-Pope, DiVincenzo, and previously Ayton—signal a high bar for impact, the Lakers may ultimately need to be more creative in constructing deals. Whether through consolidating young talent, moving draft capital, or waiting for the trade deadline, their urgency is rising.

For now, KCP remains a possible reunion. DiVincenzo is off the table. And the Suns are not picking up the phone. But the Lakers’ phones are still ringing—and Pelinka, with pressure from the top and time ticking on LeBron’s twilight years, is still listening.