Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Denver Nuggets’ shooting guard who was instrumental in their championship-winning 2022-23 NBA season, might be departing the Mile High City this summer. The looming question is whether Caldwell-Pope will remain with the Nuggets.
Caldwell-Pope faces a crucial decision regarding his player option for the 2024-25 season, which would secure him a salary exceeding $15.4 million. However, he may be considering his prospects of securing a more lucrative contract in the upcoming offseason.
Via HoopsHype:
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.
Although the Nuggets have primarily focused on the dynamic duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a significant contributor to Denver’s success over the past couple of seasons, despite their second-round exit in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Caldwell-Pope has been a consistent presence for the Nuggets, starting in all 152 games he played since being traded from the Washington Wizards along with Ish Smith for Monte Morris and Will Barton in 2022. Following this trade, the former Georgia Bulldogs standout, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, signed a two-year, $30.15 million veteran contract extension with Denver.
Should he choose to decline his player option and explore free agency, Caldwell-Pope is expected to attract considerable interest from teams seeking a veteran with championship experience and a reliable three-point shot. Over his two seasons with the Nuggets, he has demonstrated his ability to stretch the floor, shooting an impressive 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.
