Report: Nets interested in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this summer

The Detroit Pistons will have plenty of competition this summer when shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hits restricted free agency.

One interested party is the Brooklyn Nets, sources told Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Brooklyn floated three offer sheets to restricted free agents last summer, but they were all matched. And with a bounty of cap space at their disposal once again, the Nets appear ready to run back the same strategy.

For his part, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson liked what he saw from KCP throughout Detroit's loss to Brooklyn on Wednesday.

"I’m impressed. I love how he competes, how he competes on the defensive end. That’s really the essence of what I see when I watch him play. He plays with force, he competes on the defensive end," Atkinson said.

"On a given night he can get 35 on you easily. His speed off the ball, coming off those (dribble handoffs), flying off and somehow (you’re) going to have to find a way to stay attached, stay close to him."

Given the dearth of wings on the market this summer, Caldwell-Pope will likely demand something close to a maximum contract. The Pistons weren't willing to spend the max during last summer's talks, but Caldwell-Pope has since elevated his game.

The former eighth overall pick is averaging 14.2 points per game while shooting 37.1 percent from the floor this season, and the Pistons are markedly better on both ends when he's out there.