Caldwell-Pope joins 76ers on $3.9 million deal after Grizzlies buyout

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and will sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers after clearing waivers, according to ESPN. The Grizzlies and Caldwell-Pope's agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, finalized the buyout on Saturday, July 26. The 76ers signed LeBron James one day before Caldwell-Pope's deal became final.

Caldwell-Pope is a two-time NBA champion. He was part of the Lakers' 2020 title run alongside LeBron James in the bubble and won his second championship ring in 2023 as a member of the Denver Nuggets. The 33-year-old is 6-5 tall and has been one of the league's preeminent 3-and-D players over the course of his career.

However, Caldwell-Pope's recent production raises questions about his value at age 33. He underwent surgery to address a misalignment of his right pinkie finger in February and missed the last 31 games of the 2025-26 season. Before his injury, he averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 51 games for the Grizzlies, playing 21.3 minutes per game, according to ESPN. These were the fewest minutes and lowest points per game for Caldwell-Pope since his rookie year. He shot 49.5 percent on 2-point field goals and 31.6 percent from 3-point range this season for the Grizzlies.

Caldwell-Pope's perimeter production has declined significantly in recent years. He shot at least 39 percent from 3-point range from 2020 to 2024, but his 3-point shooting percentage has not been better than 34.2 percent over the past two seasons, per ESPN's reporting. The decline mirrors a broader reduction in his scoring role: he averaged only 8.4 points in 21.3 minutes with Memphis before his injury, a stark drop from his established baseline as a rotation piece.