Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with the Grizzlies and was waived Saturday. He plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and was waived Saturday. He plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers once he clears waivers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime reported late Friday night that the two sides were negotiating. The agreement came together in under 24 hours.
Caldwell-Pope picked up his $21.62 million player option in June. That was the last year of the three-year, $66 million contract he signed with the Orlando Magic in July 2024, and Memphis inherited it a year later in the Desmond Bane trade.
Philadelphia can offer him the veteran's minimum and nothing else. A one-year minimum deal for a player with 10 or more years of service pays $3.88 million next season. The cap charge is $2.45 million.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 51 games last season. He played 21.3 minutes a night. He made 41% of his shots and 31.6% of his threes, his worst mark from deep since 2015-16. At the line he shot 91.3%.
He had February surgery to fix his right pinky misalignment and missed the season. The Grizzlies expected him to recover fully and be ready for 2026-27.
Caldwell-Pope shot 40.3% from three across the five seasons before he signed with Orlando. He averaged 8.7 points and made 34.2% from deep in his lone year with the Magic.
The Detroit Pistons selected Caldwell-Pope eighth overall in the 2013 draft from Georgia. Over 13 seasons with the Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Memphis, he averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He won titles with the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023.
LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with Philadelphia on Friday. The two spent three seasons together in Los Angeles. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports represents both.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz during last season. Memphis sent Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers on June 29 for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The Grizzlies then brought in Isaiah Stewart, AJ Johnson, and D'Angelo Russell in a six-team trade on July 8. Santi Aldama went to the Dallas Mavericks in that deal. Memphis also acquired a protected first-round pick, three second-round picks, and a pick swap.
The Grizzlies' roster is well above the 15 standard contracts allowed once the regular season begins. Memphis and Russell are working toward a buyout or a trade. Russell is owed $5.97 million next season.
Cameron Boozer was drafted third overall in the 2026 draft and made the All-Summer League First Team this month. Memphis finished 4-2 in Las Vegas and lost the final to the Golden State Warriors, 94-90.
Ty Jerome is due $9,220,050 in 2026-27. He averaged 19.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 15 games last season.
Caldwell-Pope has to clear waivers before he can sign anywhere. Philadelphia is hard-capped at the first apron and does not have the room to complete deals with both James and Caldwell-Pope. Dalen Terry is on a non-guaranteed contract. Jabari Walker is guaranteed $250,000.
