Orlando Magic sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

The Orlando Magic back in the first week of July signed free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“We are thrilled to add a player like Kentavious (Caldwell-Pope) to our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “He is not only an outstanding defender and an excellent shooter, he brings high character and a championship pedigree to our backcourt. We’re very excited to welcome Kentavious to the Orlando Magic family.”

Caldwell-Pope (6’5”, 204, 2/18/93) played and started in 76 regular season games last season with Denver, averaging 10.1 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 1.29 stlpg. in 31.6 minpg., while shooting .406 (125-308) from three-point range and .894 (101-113) from the free throw line. He ranked 16th in the NBA in steals and 34th in three-point field goal percentage. Caldwell-Pope scored in double figures 39 times and 20+ points five times, including a season-high 24 points on Apr. 6 vs. Atlanta. He also played and started in 12 playoff games, averaging 8.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 2.6 apg. and 1.42 stlpg. in 35.0 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Detroit, Caldwell-Pope has played in 835 career NBA regular season games (693 starts) with Detroit, the L.A. Lakers, Washington and Denver, averaging 11.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.15 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg., while shooting .369 (1,420-3,852) from three-point range and .819 (1,303-1,590) from the free throw line. He has also played and started in 62 career NBA playoff outings, averaging 10.1 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.23 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg., while shooting .365 (114-312) from three-point range and .847 (72-85) from the free throw line. Caldwell-Pope won an NBA Championship in 2019-20 with the L.A. Lakers and 2022-23 with Denver.

Prior to being drafted, Caldwell-Pope played in 64 career games (60 starts) during two seasons (2011-13) at the University of Georgia, averaging 15.8 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.92 stlpg. in 33.0 minpg. As a sophomore (2012-13), he appeared in 32 games (30 starts), averaging 18.5 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 2.03 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg. Caldwell-Pope was named to the All-SEC First Team and was the SEC Player of the Year.