LeBron James has received a major boost in his quest to bring a championship to Philadelphia, with two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope preparing to join him with the 76ers.
Caldwell-Pope agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers after clearing waivers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move reunites James with his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, with whom he previously won the 2020 NBA championship inside the Orlando bubble.
The veteran star brings elite capabilities to a transformed Philadelphia roster, providing elite perimeter defense alongside proven championship experience.
Caldwell-Pope earned his second championship ring in 2023 as a starter for the Nuggets, proving his status as one of the league’s most reliable shooting guards.
His arrival bolsters a loaded 76ers squad that has undergone a dramatic offseason overhaul to build an immediate title contender around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
LeBron James has received a major boost in his quest to bring a championship to Philadelphia
Two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is preparing to join James with the 76ers
The acquisition comes just days after James stunned the basketball world by taking a historic pay cut, signing a two-year, $8 million veteran deal to join Philadelphia.
By accepting a salary below market value, James allowed the 76ers’ front office flexibility to construct a championship-caliber supporting cast around their new core.
Caldwell-Pope’s addition addresses a critical need on the wing, providing head coach Nick Nurse with an experienced lockdown defender capable of spacing the floor for Embiid and James.
With James, Embiid, Maxey, Jaylen Brown and now Caldwell-Pope in the fold, Philadelphia has firmly positioned itself as a favorite in the Eastern Conference.
As training camp approaches, the 76ers’ aggressive summer spending spree signals a clear, all-in mandate to deliver the franchise’s first NBA title since 1983.
Shortly after James’ move to Philadelphia was confirmed, President Donald Trump launched an astonishing attack on the NBA legend.
On Friday, Trump was asked to weigh in on who holds the title of the greatest basketball player of all time.
‘Michael Jordan’s a guy that’s a friend of mine, I’ve played golf with him,’ Trump said.
The news comes days after James stunned the basketball world by taking a historic pay cut
The move reunites James with his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, with whom he previously won the 2020 NBA championship
‘He’s a really good guy and I think LeBron is – maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump, I don’t know – but I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.’
The comments mark the latest chapter in a long-standing feud between the four-time NBA champion and Trump, which dates back to James labeling him a ‘bum’ in 2017.
James, 41, has frequently used his platform to criticize Trump, previously endorsing Democratic candidates and launching voting-rights initiatives across the country.
Their bad blood spilled into the public eye during Trump’s first presidency after he withdrew a White House invitation extended to Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry over his hesitation to visit.
