According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, the Denver Nuggets are losing their starting shooting guard to an Eastern Conference playoff team.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will sign a three-year, $66 million contract with the Orlando Magic to be their starting two-guard.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaving the Denver Nuggets and headed to the Orlando Magic on a three-year deal, I’m told.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) June 30, 2024
Caldwell-Pope, 31, averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in his 31.6 minutes per game for the Nuggets in 2023-24. His impact goes well beyond the box score though, as KCP was the primary perimeter defender within the Nuggets starting lineup, helping elevate Denver to a top 10 defensive rating in the regular season. His hands, quick feet, and high defensive IQ helped him become a premiere stopper in Denver’s lineup this year, nearly earning All-Defensive honors.
Caldwell-Pope’s scoring and shooting took a hit in the postseason this year though, as did his defensive capabilities against an elite scorer in Anthony Edwards. The Nuggets often used second-year wing Christian Braun to guard Edwards instead, leaving Caldwell-Pope to find other matchups to impact defensively.
Ultimately, the Nuggets decided to go a different direction than retain Caldwell-Pope. Yes, the second apron was a concern, but $22 million per year annually wasn’t an outrageous offer for the Nuggets to match. Nuggets GM Calvin Booth made it clear on draft night that the Nuggets are “okay if KCP doesn’t return” and cited Braun’s capabilities.
“I think we’re prepared to plug-and-play so to speak,” Booth shared Wednesday night. “I think when you look at some of the teams that have been good in the past, they have to find a way to replace fourth, fifth starters, sixth man off the bench, and still keep rolling.”
The Nuggets will attempt to do so with Braun, barring a surprise acquisition. The Nuggets now third-year wing averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.2 minutes per game off the bench. Like KCP, numbers won’t be the primary concern for Braun. Helping the Nuggets win while being a reliable shooting threat from the perimeter will be essential. Braun’s responsibilities will primary be on the defensive end, but it will be his ability to match KCP’s floor spacing that will determine how viable a solution he actually is.
Now, the Nuggets will be operating from a different place as an organization. Gone are two of the most important members of Denver’s championship group in Caldwell-Pope and Brown. Will the Nuggets replace them actively or passively? How serious are the Nuggets about making moves in free agency? Do they even have the assets to make a serious move?
Unfortunate, uncomfortable questions now face a championship contender losing a bit of what made them who they are.