After LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, it was inevitable that some of his former teammates would get the call. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the first player to get that call because he is set to sign with the 76ers after all the paperwork is finished with him and the Johni Broome trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
KCP has been playing for the Memphis Grizzlies for the past year, and while he probably had fun, playing for a championship is much better. Considering Caldwell-Pope has won a title with James on the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers team, that familiarity could be a factor.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is ecstatic to be with LeBron James again
For the longest time, the model around LeBron has always been to surround him with good shooters. That has been a system that has worked out for LeBron four different times as a four-time Finals MVP. Getting teammates who are familiar with him matters that way.
KCP is an interesting player to talk about because he has not been the same player who won the championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Of course, he is still a rock-solid player, which is why he is a massive signing for the 76ers when he clears waivers.
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Caldwell-Pope himself seems ready for the move, as he is acting like he has signed the deal already. That is not the case just yet, but there is a high likelihood that it will push through, especially since KCP is already operating with him as a 76ers player.
"I just want to get back to playing meaningful basketball. Like playing for something like you saying for another championship. I say that area again, that spotlight, you know, the playoffs, man. Ain’t nothing like it, man. And in the competition, like the competitiveness, just I want it. I still got a lot of years in me that I can still go," Caldwell-Pope said on his The Dawg Talk podcast with Jordan McGruder.
It will be a challenge for KCP to step into a new role, but that is the name of the game for role players. Of course, he has a lot of good teammates, so he will most likely come off the bench to replace quite possibly the best starting lineup of today's NBA.
More NBA news:
- LeBron James' move has made Kevin Durant make a bold championship prediction
- Iman Shumpert speaks about how the challenge of leading the 76ers to a title intrigued LeBron James
- Rich Paul believes both Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will learn from LeBron James
- Anfernee Simons has no qualms about being the sixth man for the 76ers
- LeBron James shuts down rumors of him retiring anytime soon

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