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Report: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope exercising option to stay in Memphis

By Thomson Reuters Jun 20, 2026 | 1:44 AM

After missing out on nearly half of last season, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reportedly is giving it another go in Memphis.

The two-time ​NBA champion swingman will exercise his $21.6 ‌million player option for next season and remain with the Grizzlies, ESPN reported Friday.

Caldwell-Pope, 33, missed 31 games last season, including the final 29 after undergoing surgery ‌on ​his right pinky finger in ⁠February. He was averaging ⁠8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds when he was shut down.

The Grizzlies acquired Caldwell-Pope last offseason in the trade that sent ​Desmond Bane to Orlando. He played one season with the Magic after signing a three-year, $66 ⁠million contract prior to ⁠the 2024-25 season.

Drafted eighth overall by ​Detroit in 2013, the former Georgia star has played ​with six clubs over his 13 NBA ‌seasons. After four seasons with the Pistons, he played four with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning his first NBA title in the 2019-20 ⁠season. Following a season with the Washington Wizards, he won his second championship in 2023 during a two-season ⁠stint with ‌the Denver Nuggets prior to joining ⁠the Magic.

Caldwell-Pope is a career 36.5% ​shooter ‌from 3-point range but has seen ​his percentage ⁠drop from 40.6% in his second season with the Nuggets to 34.2% in 2024-25 and then 31.6% last season. He has averaged 11 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists over his career.

–Field ​Level Media