Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is working on a buyout with the Grizzlies and plans to sign with the 76ers, reuniting with LeBron James after their 2020 Lakers title.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is soon to join the Philadelphia 76ers once he becomes a free agent. He is working on a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies that will make him an unrestricted free agent to sign elsewhere.
The move would bring the 33-year-old guard back to LeBron James, who agreed to a two-year deal with Philadelphia. They previously won a championship together with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
Caldwell-Pope and Memphis were expected to part ways early this offseason, and nothing has changed since that point. Since trading for Caldwell-Pope, the Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, focusing on rebuilding around young players. With a $21.6 million salary, he doesn't fit the Grizzlies' long-term plans.
The Grizzlies' roster is at 19 and will reach 20 after Karim López signs his rookie-scale contract. Memphis will need to get down to 15 players before the final roster deadline. One name already expected to be moved is D'Angelo Russell, who remains a potential trade or buyout candidate. Memphis has also been linked to Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins in trade talks.
Caldwell-Pope has the second-highest salary on the team, trailing only Jerami Grant, who will earn over $34.2 million this season. He is one of just two Grizzlies earning more than $15 million and among five players making $10 million or more.
Philadelphia doesn't have the space beneath its first-apron hard cap to finalize deals with both James and Caldwell-Pope, according to cap analyst Yossi Gozlan. Dalen Terry, on a non-guaranteed contract, and Jabari Walker, whose deal carries a $250,000 partial guarantee, are the likeliest cuts, but the 76ers have other ways to reduce payroll.
Caldwell-Pope is represented by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who also represents James, Tyrese Maxey, Justin Edwards, and Walker. The Miami Heat were linked to him several times earlier in the offseason.
His shooting has slipped over two years. Caldwell-Pope shot 40.3% from 3-point range across the five seasons before signing with the Orlando Magic in 2024, then made 34.2% and averaged 8.7 points in his only year there before Orlando sent him to Memphis in the Desmond Bane trade last summer. He averaged 8.4 points in 51 games with the Grizzlies, shooting 41.0% from the field, 31.6% from 3, and 91.3% from the line, and had surgery on his right pinky finger in February that ended his season.
Caldwell-Pope played 21.3 minutes per game early in the season. An injury requiring surgery doesn't have a specific date. Whether Philadelphia is betting on a 33-year-old with a lost stroke or one who played through injury affects the signing's value.
Caldwell-Pope has won two titles, including with James in the 2020 bubble and with the Nuggets in 2023, providing Philadelphia with perimeter defense and spacing around Maxey and James.
