Denver Nuggets' key championship weapon rumored to leave via free agency

Caldwell-Pope has a player option to decide on soon for the 2024-25 season. That will pay him more than $15.4 million, but he might also have faith in his ability to get a bigger bag this offseason.

Via HoopsHype:

As free agency approaches, there are also concerns that guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could decline his $15.44 million player option, enter unrestricted free agency and land a potential short-term deal for a higher annual salary comparable to Bruce Brown's previous two years, $45. a million dollar deal with Indiana.

Although the Nuggets are primarily about the tandem of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Pope has been part of the success Denver has seen over the past two seasons, despite the team's exit in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Pope has started all 152 games he has appeared in for the Nuggets since being traded to Denver by the Washington Nuggets along with Ish Smith for Monte Morris and Will Barton in 2022. Shortly after that trade, the former Nuggets star Georgia Bulldogs, who was chosen eighth overall in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, was signed by the Nuggets to a two-year, $30.15 million veteran contract extension.

If he chooses to decline his player option to test the free agency waters, Pope should be able to draw enough interest from teams looking for a veteran with championship experience and a proven ability to stretch the field. Pope shot 41.5 percent from behind the arc for Denver in two seasons with the team.