Sources: KCP to join 76ers after Grizzlies buyout
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- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 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.
- The buyout was finalized Saturday between the Grizzlies and Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports, landing Philadelphia a veteran 3-and-D wing one day after the team signed LeBron James.
- Caldwell-Pope, 33, is a two-time NBA champion — part of the Lakers' 2020 bubble title run with James and Denver's 2023 championship squad.
- He underwent surgery in February to correct a misalignment of his right pinkie finger and missed the final 31 games of the season.
- Before the injury, Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds across 51 games — his fewest minutes and lowest scoring average since his rookie year.
- His three-point shooting has slipped from at least 39% from distance every season from 2020 to 2024 to no better than 34.2% over the past two seasons.
Why it matters: The 76ers added a complementary 3-and-D veteran on a cheap one-year deal to flank a freshly signed LeBron James, but Caldwell-Pope's 3-point dip from 39%+ to under 34.2% over the past two seasons undercuts the exact skill that made him attractive — Philadelphia is betting on the 33-year-old's track record and playoff experience rather than his recent shot profile.
