KCP to Join 76ers After Grizzlies Buyout
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- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, negotiated by agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, and will sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers after clearing waivers.
- The signing comes one day after Philadelphia signed LeBron James, giving the Sixers a veteran wing shooter and defender to reshape the Eastern Conference.
- KCP, 33, is a two-time NBA champion — winning his first ring with the 2020 Lakers alongside James in the bubble and his second with the 2023 Nuggets.
- 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, he averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes across 51 games for Memphis — his fewest minutes and points per game since his rookie year.
- His 3-point shooting has declined sharply: after hitting at least 39% from distance from 2020 to 2024, he hasn't been better than 34.2% over the past two seasons.
Why it matters: The 76ers added a two-time champion wing on a cheap one-year deal to complement their blockbuster LeBron James acquisition, but KCP's 3-point efficiency has cratered — never better than 34.2% the past two seasons after a four-year run above 39% — raising real questions about his offensive fit alongside James.
