LeBron James’ former Lakers teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could reunite with him in Philadelphia after reaching an expected buyout from the Grizzlies.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could reunite with LeBron James in Philadelphia as the 76ers continue to search for available reinforcements.
According to NBA reporter Evan Sideri, the veteran guard is expected to soon reach a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies, potentially paving the way for him to join Philadelphia on a veteran’s minimum contract.
The 76ers are reportedly planning to add at least one or two more bench players as they try to bolster their championship chances following James’ arrival.
Caldwell-Pope could reunite with LeBron
Caldwell-Pope and James previously spent three seasons together with the Los Angeles Lakers, culminating with the 2020 NBA Championship in the Orlando bubble.
The 33-year-old will bring Philadelphia extensive playoff experience, perimeter defense and catch-and-shoot ability without requiring a significant offensive role.
His skill set could make him a natural complement to LeBron, providing another defender capable of guarding opposing scorers on the perimeter while maintaining spacing between the floors.
Any move would still depend on Caldwell-Pope completing his buyout from Memphis.
Credit AFP – Scanpix
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Caldwell-Pope played 51 games for the Grizzlies during the 2025-26 season, making 14 starts.
He averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game while shooting 41.0% from the field and 31.6% from 3-point range.
His season ended prematurely after he had surgery on his right pinky finger in February, causing him to miss Memphis’ final 29 games.
Caldwell-Pope subsequently exercised his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign, but a buyout would allow Memphis to move on by giving the veteran the opportunity to join a contender.
Caldwell-Pope owns two NBA championships.
The Detroit Pistons selected Caldwell-Pope with the 8th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft following his college career at Georgia.
He spent his first four NBA seasons with Detroit before joining the Lakers in 2017. After helping Los Angeles win the 2020 championship, he was traded to the Washington Wizards in 2021.
Caldwell-Pope then joined the Denver Nuggets and became a key starter in their 2023 championship run, earning his second title in four seasons.
He left Denver for the Orlando Magic in 2024 on a three-year, $66 million deal before being sent to Memphis as part of the trade that sent Desmond Bane to Orlando.
Over 13 NBA seasons and six franchises, Caldwell-Pope averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 36.5 percent from three-point range.
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