Former LeBron James’ Lakers teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could reunite with him in Philadelphia after reaching an expected buyout with the Grizzlies.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could reunite with LeBron James in Philadelphia as the 76ers continue searching for affordable reinforcements.
According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, the veteran guard is expected to reach a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies soon, potentially clearing the way for him to join Philadelphia on a veteran-minimum deal.
The 76ers reportedly plan to add one or two more bench pieces at the minimum as they attempt to strengthen their championship chances following James’ arrival.
Caldwell-Pope could reunite with LeBron
Caldwell-Pope and James previously spent three seasons together with the Los Angeles Lakers, culminating in the franchise’s 2020 NBA championship inside the Orlando bubble.
The 33-year-old would bring Philadelphia extensive playoff experience, perimeter defense and catch-and-shoot ability without requiring a significant offensive role.
His skill set could make him a natural complementary piece next to LeBron, providing another defender capable of guarding opposing perimeter scorers while spacing the floor.
Any move remains dependent on Caldwell-Pope finalizing his buyout with Memphis.
Credit AFP – Scanpix
Veteran guard coming off injury-hit season
Caldwell-Pope appeared in 51 games for the Grizzlies during the 2025-26 season, making 14 starts.
He averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game while shooting 41.0% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range.
His season ended prematurely after he underwent surgery on his right pinky finger in February, causing him to miss Memphis’ final 29 games.
Caldwell-Pope subsequently exercised his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign, but a buyout would allow Memphis to move on while giving the veteran an opportunity to join a contender.
Caldwell-Pope owns two NBA championships
The Detroit Pistons selected Caldwell-Pope with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft following his college career at Georgia.
He spent his first four NBA seasons with Detroit before joining the Lakers in 2017. After helping Los Angeles win the 2020 championship, he was traded to the Washington Wizards in 2021.
Caldwell-Pope then joined the Denver Nuggets and became a key starter during their 2023 championship run, earning his second title in four seasons.
He left Denver for the Orlando Magic in 2024 on a three-year, $66 million contract before being sent to Memphis as part of the trade that moved Desmond Bane to Orlando.
Across 13 NBA seasons and six franchises, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 36.5% from the three-point range
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