2024 NBA free agency: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaves Nuggets, joins Magic on $66M deal, per reports

Caldwell-Pope was a crucial part of Denver's 2023 championship run

By James Herbert Jun 30, 2024 at 8:36 pm ET• 3 min read

After playing off Nikola Jokic and having the time of his life, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is leaving the Denver Nuggets to sign with the Orlando Magic, as first reported by USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt. The deal is worth $66 million over three years, as first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and it will have a player option on Year 3, as first reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Caldwell-Pope, 31, was a crucial part of the Nuggets' 2023 championship run, but the front office sent clear signals ahead of free agency that it was not willing to pay what it would take to re-sign him. "I think we'll be OK if KCP doesn't return," general manager Calvin Booth said during his post-draft press conference on Wednesday, shortly after referencing Christian Braun's net rating.

For the Magic, Caldwell-Pope fills a glaring hole offensively and reinforces their defensive identity. Orlando ranked second in the NBA defensively last season, but only 22nd offensively, largely because it didn't have anybody like Caldwell-Pope. It is a credit to coach Jamahl Mosley and the team's collective commitment to defense that it managed to win 47 regular-season games despite being one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league in terms of both volume and efficiency. 

Caldwell-Pope may not get to play the same style of basketball as he did in Denver, but he will fit in extremely well. A playoff-tested 3-and-D guy, he will make everything easier for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic's two playmaking forwards. He shot 41.5% from 3-point range in his two seasons with Denver.