NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets
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The LeBron James move to the Philadelphia 76ers has already started to have ripple effects across the NBA. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has arranged for a buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies, which is now complete. With that, he has immediately agreed to sign a deal to join the Sixers. His intention is to team up with LeBron to go after another title. The two won a ring together with the LA Lakers in the bubble in 2020. KCP went on to play a key role in the Denver Nuggets’ championship in 2023 as well.
Just in: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. The two-time NBA champion with the Lakers and Nuggets, who was part of 2020… pic.twitter.com/tNM1m9crjx
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It’ll be a one-year minimum, $3.9 million deal for Caldwell-Pope with Philly. He’ll bring his 3-and-D skills as a wing shooter and defender as another key ingredient to the Sixers’ push to put together a roster that can overtake the New York Knicks as the class of the Eastern Conference.
Caldwell-Pope arranged for buyout of $21.6M contract to re-join LeBron, in Philly, for the minimum
KCP was going into the final year of his three-year, $66 million deal that he signed with the Orlando Magic a couple of summers ago. In fact, he had previously exercised his $21.6 million player option for the 2026–27 season. The exact terms of the buyout have yet to be announced.
Caldwell-Pope spent three together with James on the Lakers. He is also represented by LeBron’s agency, Klutch.
The 33-year-old had a down year offensively with the Grizz, hitting on just 31.6 % of his 3-point attempts, a career low. It’s a significant drop from a five year stretch through 2024, in which he shot a combined average of 40.3% from beyond the arc. He finished the 2025-26 campaign at 8.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He’ll be coming off the bench in Philly, where he will at least be able to provide his strong perimeter defense, while trying to recapture his long game.