Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, unable to get a satisfying offer before and after the Pistons renounced his rights, agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal with the Lakers, ESPN reported Tuesday night.

He entered free agency with expectations of receiving an offer sheet somewhere close to a max contract, but nobody was willing to offer Caldwell-Pope his price. Even Detroit wound up choosing Avery Bradley over him. Caldwell-Pope needs to prove to the NBA he's worth that kind of money, which is why he's taking the deal in L.A.. He will use that one year to prove to the league he's worth a long-term, expensive contract.

Caldwell-Pope is more potential than results. He has a reputation as a 3-and-D player, but he's a career 33.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc (in four seasons) and his defense is inconsistent. His on/off numbers suggest he's a much better defender when Andre Drummond isn't on the floor, so maybe a new environment will help his game evolve.