Nuggets Champion Reveals Mindset Ahead of Free Agency

Denver Nuggets wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be on his sixth contract this offseason.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Reveals Mindset Ahead of Free Agency

The 11-year NBA veteran has a $15.4 million player option on his deal for 2024-25 and should he decline it, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. With that comes two routes. One will lead him back to the Mile High. The other will lead him out of it.

With only a dozen games remaining in the regular season, Caldwell-Pope’s decision is nearing. But first, he’ll have a postseason run to worry about. A two-time NBA champion, Caldwell-Pope has more rings than anyone in his draft class, including Milwaukee Bucks megastar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Speaking to The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando, the 31-year-old says “it gets hard not to think about it.”

“But right now to me, it’s just trying to get to the playoffs, trying to win another championship, whether I have a player option or not. That’s the least of my worries. It’s just trying to play high-level basketball, whoever that may be with.”

Caldwell-Pope “is expected as of March to decline his player option and attract a robust market,” according to The Denver Post. However, those conversations “have to wait for toward (sic) the end of the season.”

That said, it’s worth noting that Caldwell-Pope signed a two-year, $30.1 million contract extension to stay in Denver last offseason. His affinity for the Nuggets and their winning ways is also of consequence.

Asked how he gauges Denver’s starting lineup, Caldwell-Pope says it “might be the best five I’ll play with.”

This season, that five-man unit is outscoring opponents by +14.0 points per 100 possessions. Last season, Caldwell-Pope’s first with the Nuggets, they outscored opponents by +12.6 points per 100 possessions. The collective talent of their starting unit notwithstanding, his play is a significant factor in their success.

On offense, the 3-point specialist has averaged 10.4 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent from deep. At the other end, Caldwell-Pope has taken on many of their toughest defensive assignments, buoyed by his determination and athleticism. He’s also averaged a team-high 1.4 steals per game in that stretch.

KCP to the Magic?

There are several teams projected to have enough practical cap space to sign Caldwell-Pope to a lucrative contract. Considering Caldwell-Pope’s focus on winning championships, there are three that stand out in particular: the Philadelphia 76ers, the Orlando Magic, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Magic have already been linked to Golden State Warriors veteran Klay Thompson ahead of free agency, one of the best 3-point shooters of all-time.