After weeks of rumors, the Denver Nuggets are officially losing starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract with the Magic. NBA free agent deals cannot become official until July 6, 2024.
“Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intends to sign a three-year, $66 million deal with the Orlando Magic, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium,” Charania noted in a June 30 message on X. “Massive pickup for the rising Magic, acquiring the starting shooting guard of two NBA title teams.”
The news means that Christian Braun emerges as the favorite to take over as Denver’s starting shooting guard. The Athletic’s Kevin O’Connor is among the analysts who praised the move for Orlando while labeling it a “huge loss” for Denver.
“Huge loss for the Nuggets,” O’Connor said in a series of June 30 messages on X. “An opportunity for Julian Strawther coming though, and more responsibility for Christian Braun. Suggs/KCP is gonna be an awesome defensive backcourt. Both were on my second team All-Defense ballot.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Turned Down a Similar Nuggets’ Offer to Join the Magic
Denver made an effort to re-sign Caldwell-Pope, but the shooting guard opted for a move to Florida. The Nuggets offered Caldwell-Pope “pretty similar” deal to the one KCP landed with the Magic, per The Athletic’s Tony Jones.
“Denver offered KCP a salary pretty similar to what he ended up getting from Orlando and I’m told the Nuggets offered three years,” Jones said in a June 30 message on X. “The Nuggets definitely tried here.”
The Nuggets Are Interested in Trading for Clippers Star Russell Westbrook: Report
The Nuggets could be shifting their attention to nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported that Denver is interested in making a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Westbrook.
“Russell Westbrook opted into his $4 million for this 2024-25 season, and now the Clippers are working to find a trade for Westbrook, league sources told Yahoo Sports,” Fischer noted on June 30, 2024. “The Nuggets have already considered avenues to add Westbrook, sources said.”
The feeling between Westbrook and the Nuggets appears to be mutual. According to Jones, Westbrook is interested in a move to Denver.
“League sources have indicated Westbrook has interest in playing in Denver,” Jones remarked in a June 30 message on X.
The Magic Have Also Been Linked to Paul George in NBA Free Agency
It remains to be seen if this move takes the Magic out of the Paul George sweepstakes. Heading into free agency, the Magic were one of three teams who had secured a meeting with George.
“ESPN Sources: Paul George is planning to take free agent meetings with the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic beginning late Sunday night and Monday on the West Coast,” Wojnarowski detailed in a June 29 message on X.
Orlando could still attempt to orchestrate a sign-and-trade for George or Caldwell Pope but this pathway is more complicated. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn detailed a potential pathway to land both players.
“This would need to start at around $21 million. They were RIGHT on the Paul George max line, so they’d need to save that much to stay in the hunt,” Quinn noted on X on June 30. “If the Magic still want PG they could save $17.4 million by waiving Jonathan Isaac, and then $5.3 million by trading Jett Howard.”
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