The NBA offseason is officially here. The Finals are over. The Knicks have their rings. And now it’s time for the boring but important business of player options and contract decisions.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope just made one of those decisions easy for the front office. He exercised his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, locking himself in for another year with the Grizz. The news broke Thursday afternoon.
This was his first season in Memphis after getting traded from the Orlando Magic last summer. Caldwell-Pope started 72 games for the Grizzlies and shot 38 percent from three, giving them that steady veteran presence on the wing they were looking for. Memphis finished third in the Western Conference and made a decent playoff run before losing to the eventual champion Knicks in the conference finals.
The money makes sense for both sides
Twenty-one million is a big number for a 33-year-old role player. But Caldwell-Pope has never been a flashy guy. He’s a three-and-D specialist with two NBA championship rings from his Lakers and Nuggets days. Guys like that don’t grow on trees. Memphis knew what they were getting when they traded for him, and they got exactly that.
For Caldwell-Pope, taking the option was the safe call. He could have tested free agency but there’s no guarantee he would have gotten a similar deal on the open market. Teams are getting pickier about paying older guards big money. So he locks in the $21.6 million now and worries about his next contract later.
What this means for Memphis
Ja Morant is still the guy in Memphis. But having a reliable shooter like Caldwell-Pope next to him makes life easier. The Grizz have some interesting decisions coming up with their roster — they’ve got the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft and a bunch of young guys they need to figure out contracts for. But this one was straightforward. KCP is staying.
The team has not commented publicly yet, but the expectation around the league was that he’d pick up the option. He’s been consistent in Memphis and the vibe between him and the coaching staff seems solid. No drama here, just a veteran making a business decision.
One thing worth watching: the Grizzlies are reportedly shopping some veterans on the trade block, according to people familiar with the team’s thinking. Caldwell-Pope’s name hasn’t come up in those rumors, but with that contract now locked in, he could become a trade chip if Memphis decides to shake things up. For now though, he’s a Grizzly.
Leave a Comment