3 LA Lakers players who underperformed in the 2020-21 NBA season

#2 Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews #9 of the LA Lakers

After the loss of Avery Bradley and Danny Green in the 2020 offseason, the LA Lakers needed to replace both role players and opted for Wesley Matthews. He was signed on November 22, 2020.

Mathews was the perfect fit for an LA Lakers team that needed three-point shooters and players that could defend on the perimeter. With the Lakers hoping to win back-to-back championships, they needed a suitable replacement for Bradley. His experience in the league was also a selling point as he has played for most of the top teams in the league.

Wesley Matthews' heart is with the Lakers 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/lp42nuYr3q

— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) June 4, 2021

Although Mathews was incredible on defense for the LA Lakers, he did not make significant contributions going forward. He was not as effective as many anticipated from three-point range, which was a part of why the Lakers shot 35.4% from downtown.

Mathew's averages were also not impressive as he had one of the worst field goal percentages in the team (35.3). He failed his primary assignment, which was to produce from deep for the LA Lakers. For the 2020-21 regular season he averaged 4.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

It was more of the same from the veteran guard in the playoffs, as he recorded 5.5 points per game and 1.7 rebounds.

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#1 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the LA Lakers

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was one of the L.A. Lakers' lethal shooters who was instrumental in winning the championship in 2020. The 2020-21 NBA season was his fourth stint with the Lakers, and it is arguably the worst so far.

The unavailability of Green and Bradley was the perfect opportunity for the 27-year-old guard to shine for the LA Lakers. However, it seems like the pressure was overwhelming.

Digging through stats...Marc Gasol shot 41% from 3 last season, same as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Less volume for Gasol, but that's the 2nd-best 3P% in the NBA for a center position among those that took at least 1 per game & played in at least half of their team's games

— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) July 4, 2021

Although he had the best 3-point shooting percentage (41%) for the LA Lakers during the regular season, his accuracy was abysmal come playoffs. He struggled from all ends of the court and at one point lost confidence in himself, which resulted in him passing up on several open looks.

Other than injuries that hindered the LA Lakers' effectiveness for the better part of the regular season and in the playoffs, KCP's shooting played a factor in their first-round defeat. The LA Lakers' three-point average was one of the worst in the 2021 NBA playoffs, thanks to a horrendous display from KCP and other catch-and-shoot players.