Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope plans to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The option is the final year of a three-year, $66 million contract negotiated by agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. By opting in, the 33-year-old secures the second-largest salary on the Grizzlies’ books for next season, trailing only Ja Morant’s $42,166,510.
Caldwell-Pope’s decision follows a shortened campaign that ended in February, when he underwent season-ending surgery to correct a misalignment in his right pinky finger. Before the procedure, he appeared in 51 games for Memphis in 2025-26, averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds across 21.3 minutes per contest while shooting .410 from the field, .316 from three-point range and .913 from the free-throw line.
The veteran wing joined the Grizzlies last summer in the Desmond Bane trade with Orlando. Despite winning championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and the Denver Nuggets in 2023, his long-range accuracy has dipped over the past two seasons, falling to 33.3% after hitting 38.9% from deep in the seven seasons preceding 2024-25.
Orlando originally signed Caldwell-Pope to his current deal, but he posted just 8.7 points per game in 77 starts during his lone year with the Magic before being dealt to Memphis.
Source: Hoops Rumors
