76ers Planning to Sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to One-Year Deal Following Buyout From Grizzlies

The LeBron James effect has already hit the 76ers, as former teammates and friends of James are joining the team.

Former Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a buyout with Memphis, and Caldwell-Pope intends to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers after he clears waivers.

Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime first reported the news early Saturday morning, and it was later confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Caldwell-Pope, or KCP as he’s known around the league, was in the final year of his 3-year, $66 million contract that he originally signed with the Orlando Magic back in 2024. Caldwell-Pope spent one year in Orlando before being traded to Memphis alongside Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2029 first-round pick swap in exchange for Desmond Bane.

Back in 2013, Caldwell-Pope was drafted by the Pistons with the 8th pick in that year’s draft after spending three seasons at Georgia. He spent the entirety of his rookie deal in Detroit before signing a one-year deal with the Lakers in 2017. Caldwell-Pope would continue to sign one- and two-year deals throughout his four seasons in Los Angeles, helping LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers win the 2020 NBA Finals, where he started all 21 of their playoff games.

Following that season, Caldwell-Pope would sign a three-year deal to return to the Lakers, but would eventually be shipped out to Washington in the Russel Westbrook deal. After a season with the Wizards, Caldwell-Pope would again be traded, this time to Denver, helping the Nuggets win the franchise’s first championship in 2023 and winning his second ring in the process.

At 33, Caldwell-Pope is coming off his worst season as a pro, as in 51 games, he averaged just 8.4 points a game on 41% field goal percentage and 31.6% three-point percentage. All of those were the lowest averages he’s finished with since his rookie season.

While it’s likely his days of averaging 40% from beyond the arc and playing All-Defensive team defense are over, getting someone of his skill level for the veteran minimum of $3.9 million a year is a fantastic signing for a 76ers bench that just keeps improving. How many minutes Caldwell-Pope will play, we’ll have to wait and see, but Justin Edwards now has some serious competition for the backup three spot.

However, with the signing, the 76ers will now have to cut not one but two roster spots to get under the first apron hard cap after this signing and the LeBron deal. Dalen Terry and Jabari Walker would make the money work and, as of now, seem like the two most likely to be waived or traded.

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