The Magic are set to sign free agent wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year contract, reports Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (Twitter link). The deal will be worth $66MM, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), and it includes a player option for the final season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Caldwell-Pope is one of the top prizes in the 2024 free agent class after playing an important role for the Nuggets over the past two years and helping to spark the team’s 2023 title run. His blend of defense and outside shooting makes him a perfect fit in Orlando.
Denver would have preferred to keep its starting lineup intact, but other financial commitments made it difficult to retain Caldwell-Pope. Bennett Durando of The Denver Post p0ints out (via Twitter) that the $22MM annual salary Caldwell-Pope received from Orlando would have pushed the Nuggets into the second apron if they had given him that much.
However, Tony Jones of The Athletic hears that Denver made a three-year offer at close to the amount that Caldwell-Pope received from the Magic (Twitter link).
Speaking to reporters after the first night of the draft on Wednesday, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth seemed resigned to the fact that Caldwell-Pope was likely leaving.
“I think when you look at some of the teams that have been good in the past, they have to find a way to replace fourth, fifth starters, sixth men off the bench and still keep rolling,” Booth said. “… I think if (Christian Braun) has to step into the starting lineup, I think we’ll be OK, if KCP doesn’t return.”
Caldwell-Pope is joining a Magic team loaded with young talent that just made its first playoff appearance in four years. He will presumably start alongside Jalen Suggs in the backcourt and will provide a three-point shooting threat that the team has lacked. Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer notes (via Twitter) that Orlando ranked 29th in three-point attempts and 24th in three-point percentage this season. Caldwell-Pope is a career 36.9% shooter from long-distance and connected at 40.6% this year.
While KCP is a tremendous addition f0r the Magic, it seems likely to take them out of the Paul George sweepstakes. Orlando is one of three teams that George plans to meet with tonight, but its remaining projected cap room is down to roughly $30-32MM, according to Spotrac, which is far below what George will be looking for in his next contract. There are still ways the Magic could make it work, but they’ve always been viewed as a longer shot for George than the Clippers or Sixers.
Speaking of the Sixers, the Magic’s agreement with KCP ends Philadelphi’s hopes of finding a way to add both George and Caldwell-Pope to a vastly revamped roster.
Makes sense. This probably cements PG to Philly, which is such a huge own-goal. Sixers heading right into the same dark alley where the Suns went last year.
Totally different situation. suns gutted their team to get KD. Sixers mostly staying together and adding PG to what they have.
Stayed together? They currently have three players on their roster and one has a non-guaranteed contract!
They’ll keep their key pieces. They’re not trading away quality players and all of their draft assets like the Suns. Like I said, totally different situation.
They can’t keep their pieces. They will of course keep Maxey, but that’s a 40m max. Embiid and PG are over $90m. There just isn’t enough room under the 2nd apron to add much more in the “over vet minimum” market, whether their own players or not.
Already had to dump Batum, who was a very useful, cheap piece. Much more of that coming. And all to bring in a superstar who’s hurt half the time and in his mid-30’s.
The 76ers have Bird rights on everyone but Oubre, Payne, Bamba and Lowry.
@ Seam
It also.might Cement Klay Thompson to the Sixers
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope going to the Orlando Magic for 3 years $66 million is one of the best signings I’ve seen so far. They get a two time champion that plays the game the right way! The Orlando Magic getting KCP is huge because he’s a very good three point shooter which is what they desperately need but he’s also a great perimeter defender. So they gain on the defensive and offensive end of the court and most importantly they can come playoff time. They could’ve beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round but wasn’t executing well. With KCP in the lineup they will execute much better next time around. The spacing he provides will have Paolo Banchero become more efficient.
And this is why they will always be a poverty franchise. Smh.
Orlando? They’re GOOD. Very good. They won’t be in Boston’s class but that team can effing play on both ends and are way under the lux tax so have more moves in them.
I actually think they present some interesting matchups vs Boston
They are offensively challenged and needed to hit a home run this offseason. KCP helps with 3 pt shooting and defense but he’s not creating shots. They are a C and PG away from being a legit conference finals contender.
The player is good… The money is even better…
O wow…great fit for them. They’ve needed help at 3 and D wing, and they got a great option. They’re potentially really, really good next year, depending who else they retain/who they replace/how they decide to go with this rotation…
Also probably comparable AAV to other options, with no state income tax, though I guess it would have been the same in Dallas, if he went there
Taxes are never as much of a factor as fans think. For one, you’re taxed on where you play each game, not your home city (so pro athletes have VERY complicated tax situations). For another, unless you live in like Wyoming or New Hampshire, which pro athletes don’t, they get you in other ways. If it’s not income tax it’s property tax and sales tax (FL has a very large sales tax).
I’m aware of the each game thing, and I didn’t suggest it’s that much..it’s enough that a 2-3 million difference in AAV is relatively equal
Magic still need a PG. But they will be tougher with KCP.
Good on KCP for reviving his career and getting a nice payday.
He was on the brink once, ramped up his defense and that corner three pre-Bubble.
Thank God. i rather bring Kelly Oubre to the Sixers on the mid level exception. Just more upside.
Huge W for the Magic
Nice
Great move by orlando. Valuable unselfish player who can shoot a little and defend a lot. Brings a veteran to the back court with lots left in the tank.
Veteran they needed, great shooter for a bad offensive team as well
Paolo Banchero 21, Franz Wagner 22, Anthony Black 20 and Jalen Suggs just turned 23 a month ago. If Orlando FO can keep this core together this team will be easily top three in the east for many many years to come.
Imagine paying a 31 year old 22mil a season for the next 3 years to average 10-2-2.
Last year he put up
10.1 – 2.4 – 2.4 and shot 46-41-89
with good defence. Now getting 22mil
Here’s some comparable numbers
A:
14.5 – 4.3 – 2.7 shooting 43-31-77
with elite defence getting 20mil
B:
13.5 – 3 – 3.9 shooting 50-46-88
with okay defence getting 15mil
C:
20.2 – 3.3 – 5.4 shooting 49.5-36-71
with nice defence getting 25mil
First guy, Marcus Smart is a far superior defender, who also offers some playmaking ability but is a lot worse as a shooter but is a bigger part of the offence. He gets less money but yet I’d rather have him.
Second guy, Grayson Allen is a far superior shooter, who also does more for the team (more assists and more rebounds) yet is a bit worse of a defender. He’s getting 7mil less a season and again I’d rather have him.
Third guy, RJ Barrett is probably just as good of a defender, much better offensively although not very good from the FT line. He actually averages basically twice as many points, assists and rebounds per game as KCP and gets only 3mil more than him, yet he’s clearly the better player.
I’m not knocking KCP at all, I think he’s made a fantastic business decision cashing in while the value is there and the market has a need. He’s won a ring as a role player and when it’s said and done, had a nice long career. But that’s all he is, a role player and you’re paying him good starters money to hit 2 or 3 threes a game.
Overall it’s just a bad deal from the Magic.
Where are the stats that shows he plays the most premium positions in the current nba, and is a winner?
I like this for KCP getting a payday he deserves but doesn’t make sense for the Magic but okay.
it’s probably the best FA they can lure to ORL
I understand how certain teams throughout time have had trouble getting FAs but I don’t like the age part. Recent signing of Tobias Harris in Detroit as well is older than the rest of the starting lineup. I would have five young guys around the same age starting and developing together with veterans on the bench or vise versa
Better keep Goga and the other Wagner
In what world does a team, that needed a 3 and D wing for years, getting a 3 and D wing make no sense
Dude you said yesterday that Derrick Jones can play snall ball 5, Ajinca is a 4 and Marshall who signed in Dallas is a 4 as well. You don’t know go away
Derrick Jones jr literally went to the nba finals playing some smallball 5 in 2020…