Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies last week and plans to join the Philadelphia 76ers.
After one season with the Memphis Grizzlies, veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is taking on a new challenge.
The 33-year-old agreed to a buyout with the Grizzlies last week and plans to join the Philadelphia 76ers, where he'll get to join forces with former teammate LeBron James.
When asked about the move, Caldwell-Pope said he just wants to get back to playing "meaningful basketball." That would seem to indicate that he felt that was missing with the 2025-26 Grizzlies, who missed the playoffs in the West and won just 25 games.
Caldwell-Pope has played tons of meaningful basketball during his NBA career, but the 2025-26 Grizzlies might've represented a bit of a departure from that. The two-time NBA champ had made the playoffs in three straight seasons before joining the Grizzlies last offseason via trade. That streak obviously came to an end when Memphis finished 25-57.
With Philly, Caldwell-Pope may have an opportunity to compete for a title. The 76ers have a loaded roster after a busy offseason. James and fellow stars Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey headline the talented group. Meaningful basketball is virtually guaranteed for Caldwell-Pope, and a chance at something more is also on the table.
The former lottery pick has already won a championship with James once before when the two players were both with the Los Angeles Lakers. They helped L.A. reach the mountaintop during the 2019-20 season in the bubble, giving Caldwell-Pope his first ring in the NBA.
He then added to his collection in the 2022-23 season with the Denver Nuggets, when he was a key part of another championship team. He was a starter during each of those postseason title runs with L.A. and Denver.
If he can add another title to his resume with the 76ers, he'll be in rare company as a champion with three different teams. Only four players have ever done that, including James.
Meanwhile, Memphis is looking to take a step forward this coming season and turn over a new leaf after picking up Duke product Cameron Boozer in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Grizzlies have a number of pieces to be excited about and are entering a new era after trading away star guard Ja Morant earlier this offseason.
There may be some growing pains for the organization as it looks to get back to meaningful basketball itself, but in due time, Memphis figures to be a factor once again in the Western Conference.
