Caldwell-Pope signs with 76ers after Grizzlies buyout
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with Memphis and signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal with Philadelphia after clearing waivers, per ESPN. The 33-year-old two-time NBA champion joins the 76ers one day after they signed LeBron James.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 33, agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and signed 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 Saturday.
Caldwell-Pope is a two-time NBA champion, part of the Lakers' 2020 title run alongside James in the bubble and winning his second ring in 2023 as a member of the Nuggets. The 6-5 wing joins Philadelphia one day after the 76ers signed LeBron James.
In 51 games for Memphis before undergoing surgery to address a misalignment of his right pinkie finger in February, Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and played 21.3 minutes. Those were the fewest minutes and points per game since his rookie year. He shot 49.5% on 2-point field goals and 31.6% from 3-point range in those 51 games, then missed the last 31 games of the season due to the finger procedure.
Caldwell-Pope's 3-point shooting has declined sharply from his historical standard. After shooting at least 39% from distance from 2020 to 2024, he has not been better than 34.2% over the past two seasons. His playing time and scoring output with the Grizzlies came at the lowest levels since his rookie year, suggesting a diminished role and productivity before the injury. His immediate availability and fitness for the 76ers following the finger surgery remain uncertain based on available reporting.
Caldwell-Pope signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers after the Grizzlies and his agent finalized the buyout Saturday.
Caldwell-Pope joins a Philadelphia roster that added James in free agency, but his 3-point efficiency drop and recent injury create questions about how much he contributes in a title pursuit. Watch whether he is fully available for the 76ers' rotation immediately and whether his shooting returns closer to his historical 39%+ mark or remains in the 31-34% range.
The score is a fact. The story gets checked.
Checked and verified by the desk's automated verifier and independent approver on July 26, 2026: 1 of 1 cited source pages were fetched live and read against the story's claims. How our checks work · Report an error.
Sources
GoCheckMySports reports events. It never advises bets. Nothing here is betting or gambling advice.