June 30th 2024.
Calvin Booth's comments on draft day carried a sense of foreboding, almost like a sign of an inevitable loss. And unfortunately, reality aligned with those concerns on Sunday. The Nuggets had to face the fact that they lost yet another key player from their championship team to free agency. This time, it was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed a lucrative three-year, $66 million contract with the Orlando Magic. The news came from reports by reliable sources such as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Caldwell-Pope had turned down his player option of $15.4 million with the Nuggets earlier in the week, choosing to test the waters of unrestricted free agency. Despite having his full Bird rights, Denver was unable to retain him in the competitive market. Re-signing him at the same salary he received from Orlando would have pushed the Nuggets' payroll over the second tax apron, limiting their options for other signings.
Caldwell-Pope had been a valuable member of the Nuggets for the past two seasons, even winning his second NBA title with the team in 2023. In his time with Denver, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting an impressive 41.5% from beyond the arc. He also received recognition for his defensive abilities, receiving 11 votes for the NBA All-Defensive Team last season. His defensive field goal percentage of 44% was among the best in the league, especially considering he often guarded the opposing team's star players. According to data from Second Spectrum, opponents only shot 40.6% from the floor when Caldwell-Pope was their closest defender, making him a valuable asset on both ends of the court.
As the Nuggets bid farewell to Caldwell-Pope, they can't help but wonder what could have been if they had been able to keep him. But for the 31-year-old shooting guard, his move to Orlando is an opportunity to join a young and promising team. Led by Paolo Banchero, the Magic are looking to take the next step after making the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and boasting the third-best defense in the league last season. Caldwell-Pope will also team up with Jalen Suggs to create a formidable defensive backcourt for Orlando.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets are now faced with the task of finding a replacement for Caldwell-Pope. It seems that Christian Braun will be the one to step into the starting lineup, as Booth had hinted at in a news conference last Wednesday. The general manager acknowledged the importance of being able to replace key players and maintain a strong team, even if it means relying on younger players like Braun. However, he also expressed a desire for Caldwell-Pope to return, showing that the Nuggets still hold him in high regard and will miss his contributions on the court.
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