The Orlando Magic nabbed their main free-agency target this offseason in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, signing one of the league’s best 3-and-D players to a three-year, $66 million deal with a player option on the third year, per NBA insider Michael Scotto of USA Today.
The Orlando Magic and free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have agreed to a three-year, $66 million deal, league sources told @hoopshype. KCP gets a player option Year 3 of the deal, league sources say. https://t.co/fmGF2kaiBu
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 30, 2024
Caldwell-Pope will provide elite perimeter defense and three-point shooting to a Magic team that took the No.3 seed Cleveland Cavaliers to the limit in their best-of-seven series.
After stops with the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Denver Nuggets, the 31-year-old veteran will take his talent and experience to Orlando, which is gearing up for a deeper playoff run next season.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.1 points on 46 FG% and 40 3PT% while posting 1.3 steals per game during the 2023-24 regular season. His numbers dipped in this year’s playoffs, averaging 8.1 points on 39 FG% and 32 3PTS%.
Despite his recent playoff struggles, Caldwell-Pope will play a significant role in helping the Magic shore up their perimeter defense and three-point shooting. Orlando ranked in the bottom quadrant of the league in three-point shooting teams in the regular season (35.2 3PT%) and the playoffs (30.9 3PT%).
Caldwell-Pope, a career 36% three-point shooter, will also bring his championship pedigree to the Magic. He’s a two-time NBA champion, winning with the Lakers and the Nuggets.
THE CONVERSATION.