Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suspended for two games for OWI guilty plea

The NBA announced Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s punishment on Friday that came in the wake of his guilty plea for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He’ll miss two games in the coming season.

KCP was arrested on March 29 at approximately 2:50 a.m. after being pulled over for speeding. After being arrested for failing a sobriety test, his blood alcohol content was later tested to show a .08 percent BAC.

He’ll be a restricted free agent this summer and will presumably serve the suspension to open the season for whatever team he suits up for next season. One interesting wrinkle on the situation:

Reggie Bullock is suspended for five games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. The only drug suspension consistent with a five-game suspension involves marijuana. Which a five game suspension for general use of marijuana compared with a two game suspension of putting lives at risk while getting behind the wheel while under the influence seems quite disproportionate.

Regardless, the potential extra minutes available will give Stanley Johnson or Luke Kennard an early chance for a starting lineup appearance if both Bullock and KCP are back in Detroit.

KCP was sentenced to probation for the next year as a result of his guilty plea. Over his previous four years Caldwell-Pope had been a model citizen for the Pistons. Hopefully this mistake simply serves as a learning experience for him and he returns to his typical high character self moving forward.