Re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be the Nuggets‘ top priority this summer, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Caldwell-Pope has a $15.4MM player option for next season, and there will be a “robust” market awaiting him if he decides to opt out, league sources tell Durando.
“It gets hard not to think about it,” Caldwell-Pope said. “But right now to me, it’s just trying to get to the playoffs, trying to win another championship, whether I have a player option or not. That’s the least of my worries. It’s just trying to play high-level basketball, whoever that may be with.”
The 31-year-old shooting guard was a valuable component to last season’s championship team because of his ability to match up with elite wing scorers. He’s also shooting 40.9% from three-point range since coming to Denver, providing a needed floor spacer around Nikola Jokic.
Durando notes that the Nuggets will be motivated to keep Caldwell-Pope after losing Bruce Brown in free agency last year, but there are financial ramifications to a new contract. Denver is currently within $4.7MM of the second tax apron, and a hefty salary boost for KCP would likely subject them to those provisions next season.
There’s more from Denver:
- Jamal Murray left Thursday’s game in the final minute after appearing to hurt his leg on an awkward landing, but it doesn’t seem to be serious, Durando adds in a separate story. “Just turned his ankle a little bit,” coach Michael Malone said.
- Michael Porter Jr. set a franchise record for most three-pointers in a season Thursday night, topping the mark of 192 formerly held by Dale Ellis, per Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post. “Even when (Porter) is not hot, it seems like he is going to make every shot,” Caldwell-Pope said. “For him to continue to shoot with that confidence is great for him and us.”
- Jokic remains a clear favorite for MVP honors, according to Michael C. Wright of NBA.com. Jokic tightened his grip on the top spot in the MVP race by following up Tuesday’s 35-point, 16-rebound performance at Minnesota with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists Thursday against New York.
Wonder if kcp would take a little haircut in favour for a longer contract? Surely Denver trying to find Reggie Jackson a new home after he exercises his $5.2 mil player option.
Tough call on KCP, one of the more interesting DDV candidates (4x MLE) this year if he does hit the market
I still lean 60% sticking with Den but that leaves a good chance at departure, one that wouldnt have happened in recent CBA’S
Watson makes this possible, Gordon re-up due year after (along with Murray whoes a def stay) Gordons a lot tougher to replace than KCp even w/out factoring Watson so that leads me to my 40%.
Veering away from KCP leaves them room under apron 2 to massage out any wrinkles heading forward with Joker Murray MpJr Gordon via trade. Retention puts them over and makes that more difficult.
This is Silvers dream NBA, be careful small market (Den…soon OKC ), grass isn’t always greener when asked to submit votes against the big bully big market teams
Nuggets wouldn’t have recently re-signed Zeke for 8 million a year if they were planning to let KCP walk just to get under the 2nd apron, that makes no sense. KCP will be back unless he gets massively overpaid
I don’t see the correlation
We are in new territory, its a close call, we shall see
Overconfidence in either direction is a sign of ignorance, not intelligence….but I still think your 60% correct
The correlation is the nuggets management wouldn’t have recently re-signed a dude who barely plays for 8 million a year if they were worried about the 2nd tax apron.
If DEN wins it again, then I see them bringing everyone back, aprons be damned. Giving a repeating champion a shot at 3 in a row is more important than both roster flexibility or short term profitability.
If not, then it’s an issue, but not one that’s really just about KCP. If the cap numbers don’t exceed the recently reduced estimates, then a more structural change might be warranted. Carrying 3 max deals, plus Gordon, might not be sustainable beyond next year even with KCP gone. I’m betting that Booth likes KCP at his price point better than MPJ at his. The latter may be playing his way into being a tradable asset.
KCP is a solid glue guy but the overall stat line is pretty pedestrian. He rates pretty terribly across the board for offensive metrics. How much of that is a byproduct of being selfless in the Denver system is another question. But I don’t think he is someone you want to over invest in.
Right? I thought he would be a fantasy steal, but he’s pretty unreliable. I love the way he plays. But a lot of it is not rewarded on the stat sheet. I think his best days are behind him, could see him being a contender-hopping vet even though it’s ring city in Denver.
I disagree that a top defensive stopper that shoots 40% from 3 (and 43% since the ASG) with 92.7 % from the free throw line (2nd best in the league for players shooting at least 100 ftas) “rates pretty terribly for offensive metrics”.
Considering the dropoff from KCP to Braun and Holiday, I think the Nuggets really need to keep him.
Right, but they could get a lesser albeit similarly helpful defender for a smaller financial hit.
Nuggets should move Porter while he’s got value. Keeping Jokic, Murray and Gordon are priority. Moving MP would allow the team to get under the Luxury tax and obtain young talent and draft picks. Denver doesn’t have the financial flexibility to overpay like LAC and GSW.