Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sacrificed nearly $4 million in a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies to join the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Scotto reported on Monday that Caldwell-Pope gave back $3.9 million from his contract with Memphis, matching the salary he is expected to earn on his new deal with Philadelphia. The veteran guard was originally set to make $21.6 million in 2026-27 after exercising his player option.
Caldwell-Pope, 33, signed a three-year, $66 million contract before joining the Grizzlies, who acquired him in the trade that sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. His stay in Memphis lasted only one season, with the veteran now moving to a championship contender built around Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.
The move reunites Caldwell-Pope with James after the two played together on the Los Angeles Lakers from 2018 to 2021. The pair won the 2020 NBA championship inside the Orlando bubble, with Caldwell-Pope starting all 21 playoff games that postseason while averaging 10.7 points and shooting 37.8% from three-point range.
Philadelphia’s offseason overhaul created a role for another experienced perimeter defender and shooter. The 76ers traded Paul George to acquire Brown from the Boston Celtics, then added James on a two-year, $8 million contract before targeting veteran depth pieces.
Caldwell-Pope gives Philadelphia a proven 3-and-D option who has played 963 career NBA games, including 784 starts. He has averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 36.5% from three-point range over his 13-year career.
The guard spent the 2025-26 season with Memphis, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 51 games. However, his three-point shooting dropped to 31.6%, his lowest mark since his early NBA seasons, after he shot 40.3% from beyond the arc over the previous five campaigns.
Caldwell-Pope’s best stretch came during his two seasons with the Denver Nuggets. In 2022-23, he averaged 10.8 points while shooting 42.3% from three-point range and helped Denver win its first NBA championship. The following season, he averaged 10.1 points with a 40.6% three-point percentage while starting all 76 games.
The 76ers are adding Caldwell-Pope to a roster that already features significant perimeter talent. Philadelphia finished the 2025-26 regular season 45-37 and reached the second round of the playoffs before being swept by the New York Knicks.
