When you add LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a star-heavy roster that already includes multi-time All-Stars such as Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, you become a destination where win-now role players want to be. The Philadelphia 76ers are indeed a destination.
Just hours after LeBron James' commitment to the Sixers went public, the Sixers landed another from a two-time champion in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Recently, the 33-year-old veteran explained his reasoning behind his decision to choose the Sixers after striking a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies.
KCP makes his decision clear
"I just want to get back to playing meaningful basketball," the veteran said on his Dawg Talk Podcast. "Like, playing for something, playing for another championship. I say that area again, that spotlight, you know, the playoffs, man. Ain't nothing like it, man. And the competition, like the competitiveness, I just want it. I still got a lot of years in me that I can still go."
The addition of LeBron obviously added a lot of excitement for the Sixers this season, but the arrival of Caldwell-Pope has been met with plenty of praise early on as well. His resume is impressive.
Since entering the NBA in 2013, Caldwell-Pope has had runs with the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and recently, the Memphis Grizzlies.
Throughout his career, which includes 963 games of action, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, while he shoots 36.5% from three. He has been regarded as one of the better 3-and-D players in the game.
When Caldwell-Pope was with the Lakers during the 2019-2020 season, he won an NBA Championship. At the time, LeBron James was his teammate. That season clearly played a part in helping the 76ers land KCP for the 2026-2027 run.
In addition to his third season with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope won a ring with the Nuggets during his first season in Denver. During that 2023 championship run, Caldwell-Pope appeared in 20 games. He shot 38.0% from three and produced 10.6 points per game.
The Sixers showed interest in Caldwell-Pope in 2024. In NBA free agency, Caldwell-Pope signed with the Orlando Magic. Considering he was making $66 million over three years, expectations were high for the veteran wing. He struggled to live up to them in Orlando and even in Memphis last year.
Perhaps the meaningful minutes on a minimum deal on a stacked Sixers team will be just what KCP needs to get back on track. And when the next wave of buyouts forms, KCP's statement will live in free agents' heads.
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