Caldwell-Pope Set to Rejoin LeBron James in Philadelphia

On July 25, 2026 (scheduled), veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reached a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and intends to sign a one-year, $3.9 million veteran-minimum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers after clearing waivers. The move would reunite him with LeBron James, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Sixers on July 24, 2026 (occurred).

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Secures Buyout To Go For Another Title With LeBron

Caldwell-Pope, a 13-year NBA veteran, was a key 3-and-D wing on the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 championship team alongside James and later helped the Denver Nuggets win in 2023. He exercised a $21.6 million player option for 2026-27 with Memphis, but after a season-ending right-pinky surgery he and the Grizzlies agreed to a buyout. His agent is Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, the same agency that represents James.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Secures Buyout To Go For Another Title With LeBron

• 2025-26 season (Memphis): 51 games, 8.4 pts, 2.7 ast, 2.5 reb, 21.3 min per game; 41.0 % FG, 31.6 % 3-pt.

The Morning Call

• Career 3-pt average: 36.5 % (multiple sources).

Philadelphia Inquirer

• Veteran minimum for a player with ten+ years of service in 2026-27 is $3.9 million.

76ers Planning to Sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to One-Year Deal Following Buyout From Grizzlies

The addition gives Philadelphia a proven perimeter defender and experienced bench scorer as it builds a roster around James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and newly acquired Jaylen Brown. However, the Sixers are hard-capped at the NBA’s first apron after using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception for forward Dean Wade. Adding Caldwell-Pope requires clearing two additional contracts to stay under the cap.

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• Front-office insider Bobby Marks explained that “with LeBron James and now KCP, Philadelphia will need to clear out 2 contracts to fit within the first apron”.

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• No formal comment from the Sixers was released at the time of reporting.

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No substantive, named criticism of the transaction appears in the source set; coverage focuses on the logistical cap challenge rather than opposition to the player’s acquisition.

Heavy

• “He didn’t bring his grief to the locker room,” — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, veteran

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope negotiating Grizzlies buyout to join Sixers

• “With LeBron James and now KCP, Philadelphia will need to clear out 2 contracts to fit within the first apron,” — Bobby Marks

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• “Stays ready, works on his craft,” — Evaluating James, two-time NBA champion

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• “To sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also, they’ll have to move off another player too. Definitely a couple of additional moves coming from Philadelphia before it’s all put together.” — Keith Smith, salary cap expert

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Arranging Buyout To Head To New Team

The Sixers must decide which non-guaranteed contracts—most commonly mentioned as Dalen Terry’s fully non-guaranteed deal and Jabari Walker’s partially guaranteed $250,000 portion—will be waived to create the required cap space. The finalization of Caldwell-Pope’s buyout and the subsequent waiver clearances are expected before the start of the 2026-27 regular season.

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