The biggest story in an offseason full of them for the Denver Nuggets was the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope via free agency. The Nuggets came under fire for letting a key starter from a championship core get away on the open market.
They could have chosen to match any offer for KCP, but they ultimately did not and he signed with the Orlando Magic on a three-year, $66 million deal with an average annual value of $22 million.
At the time, the deal was lauded as the general narrative was that the Magic had added a veteran leader with elite defensive skills, great shooting, and an overall solid offensive game. Some were even calling the Nuggets cheap for refusing to match the deal and keep the 2023 Finals starting lineup together.
NBA media members, executives, and players alike were all questioning the decision-making in Denver, and criticizing the offseason across the board. Most of the criticism stemmed from the KCP decision and the lack of external replacement.
KCP struggling in Orlando while Nuggets’ starters thrive
While the NBA season is not quite even a month old yet, early returns suggest that the Nuggets might have made the right decision. Caldwell-Pope has struggled early on with the Magic, continuing a trend that was on display during the playoffs.
KCP has still been a solid defender, and nobody can question the leadership he has surely brought to that young locker room. But through 11 games, he’s averaging just 6.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Worse still, he’s shooting a measly 32% from the field and just 22% on three-pointers.
Again, this is a small sample size, but those numbers are putrid and if they don’t improve, Caldwell-Pope will surely see his minutes diminish. He hasn’t quite gelled with the Magic’s offense yet, and without Nikola Jokic creating advantages, KCP hasn’t had as many easy looks as he has become accustomed to.
The truth is, Caldwell-Pope is again, and he likely isn’t the player he was even in 2023. But he’s also probably not as bad as he has looked so far. The contract looks like an overpay, but with the cap rising, it likely won’t look too atrocious for Orlando.
At the same time, the Nuggets’ starting lineup has been excellent and Christian Braun has been a revelation in KCP’s old role. The Nuggets have plenty of issues and they still made a lot of questionable moves this offseason. But it looks like this one in particular may have been a home run.