American reporter: Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his player option and remain with the Grizzlies next season.
2026-04-04 07:20
According to a report by HoopsHype's Michael Scotto on Friday, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026/27 season. If all goes well, he will remain with the Memphis Grizzlies next season.
Caldwell-Pope, 33, plays shooting guard and was drafted into the NBA in 2013 as the 8th overall pick in the first round. He has played for the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, and Orlando Magic, winning two NBA championships during his career (2020, 2023).
However, Caldwell-Pope's performance has declined significantly in the last two seasons. He joined the Magic in 2024 with a three-year, $66 million contract, but in the following year he only averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
In June 2025, Caldwell-Pope was traded to the Grizzlies in a deal involving Desmond Bane. To date, he has played 51 regular season games for the Grizzlies, averaging only 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 41.0% and a three-point percentage of 31.6%.
To make matters worse, Caldwell-Pope has been sidelined since February due to a dislocated little finger on his right hand. He has successfully undergone corrective surgery on his little finger and is confirmed to miss the remainder of the season.
According to the Grizzlies, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to be fully recovered before the start of the 2026/27 season. His salary next season will be the second highest on the team, behind only Ja Morant's $42.17 million.
Image source: Internet/Yahoo Sports
