LOS ANGELES_The Los Angeles Lakers' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to be at practice Saturday, but the starting shooting guard will have to navigate the conditions of his shortened probation for about the next month.
Caldwell-Pope missed Thursday night's game in Cleveland because he had to return to California to begin an intensive 25-day program, according to people familiar with his situation who weren't authorized to speak publicly. The program comes with travel restrictions, which could cause Caldwell-Pope to miss more games.
"We are pleased that Kentavious will now continue with his NBA season and move forward in a positive manner from this experience," his lawyer, Jeffrey Abood, said in a statement to ESPN. Abood did not respond phone and text messages from the Los Angeles Times.
Caldwell-Pope was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after being stopped at 2:52 a.m. on March 29 in Auburn Hills, Mich. Caldwell-Pope pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of allowing another person to operate his vehicle while under the influence, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 12 months' probation. According to The Detroit Free Press, he was initially not allowed to leave the state during that probationary period.
Caldwell-Pope signed with the Lakers this July on a one-year deal worth about $18-million. He has averaged 14.2 points per game this season.
"I think we will have him for the next game but everything was happening real-time and we have a lot going on," Lakers coach Luke Walton said after Thursday night's game in Cleveland.
The Lakers will resume their schedule on Monday at home against the Golden State Warriors.
