Kentavious Caldwell-Pope May Get Same Deal as Ex-Nugget: Report
Keeping Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should be one of the biggest priorities of the Denver Nuggets. Since they will likely cross the NBA’s second tax apron if they keep him, that makes the matter a little more complicated.Other factors could be at play, like the contract of former Nugget Bruce Brown. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto revealed that there are some worries that Caldwell-Pope might get a contract similar to Brown if he hits the market.“Heading into free agency, there’s also concern that guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could decline his $15.44 million player option, enter unrestricted free agency, and land a potential short-term offer for a higher salary annually comparable to Bruce Brown’s previous two-year, $45 million deal with Indiana,” Scotto wrote.Brown’s deal also had a team option, which is why it appeals to free agents and teams. It’s a lot of money to offer, and it keeps them flexible. Caldwell-Pope brings two-way perimeter play on top of championship experience.Losing Caldwell-Pope would be a tough blow for the Nuggets, who already proved they struggled after losing some of their depth with Brown’s and Jeff Green’s departures.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s DeadlineCaldwell-Pope has until June 29 to decide what he wants to do with his player option. While opting in would net him over $15 million, entering free agency could pave the way for him to make even more.While he won’t make any All-Star teams in the near future, Caldwell-Pope has been a starter on two separate NBA title teams. He was the Los Angeles Lakers‘ starting shooting guard on their title team in 2020 as well. Doing so proves he has a track record of being a pivotal player on a team with title aspirations.That resume could make him very appealing to a team that wants to win or take its first steps toward creating a winner. If he decides to go for more money elsewhere, that could prove problematic for the Nuggets.In Denver’s case, replacing Caldwell-Pope would not be easy, given what he brings to the table. Not many NBA players can provide the perimeter defense and spacing that he does on a cheap contract. The Lakers thought they could replace his impact with veterans like Trevor Ariza after they traded him in 2021, only to learn that it was not a good idea.The ramifications of the second tax apron are harsh, but the Nuggets don’t have better optionsKentavious Caldwell-Pope Linked to Sixers: ReportBefore Scotto’s report, Yahoo Sports! Jake Fischer reported that the Philadelphia 76ers could look into adding Caldwell-Pope. As Scotto reported, they may sign him to a deal similar to Brown;s.“The Sixers, sources said, took note of Indiana’s two-year splurge for Bruce Brown that then became the biggest salary headed back to Toronto in exchange for Siakam. Veteran wings like Klay Thompson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would fall on the Sixers’ list of targets for similar one-plus-one contracts,” Fischer wrote in a May 23 story.The Sixers have the cap room to add Caldwell-Pope straight up. However, with other stars like Paul George on the market, they’ll likely go after the bigger names first. If they strike out on them, that could be a problem for the Nuggets.
Like Heavy.com's content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy.comThe post Kentavious Caldwell-Pope May Get Same Deal as Ex-Nugget: Report appeared first on Heavy.com.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings