NUGGETS JOURNAL
MINNEAPOLIS >> The Nuggets no longer need a physical prop to represent their championship aspirations, so Kentavious Caldwell-pope is thinking of scaling back on a 2023 tradition.
When he was the only player on the roster who’d won a championship, he brought his Lakers ring to Denver’s home playoff games as a motivational symbol for teammates. This year is different. “Everybody has one,” he pointed out last weekend. The Nuggets have proof of their potential. That 2020 ring’s services won’t be as necessary.
But Caldwell-pope’s services will be as crucial as ever. Offensively, he’s the fifth starter in the NBA’S steadiest starting five. Defensively, he’s the backcourt’s backbone, guarding every opponent’s best guard. In the deep and talented West, he’s responsible for checking superstars like Shai Gilgeousalexander, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards and Steph Curry. When the Nuggets ended Boston’s perfect home record, Michael Malone mirrored Caldwell-pope’s minutes with Jayson Tatum’s. “KCP has an indomitable will,” Aaron Gordon said.
He’s also taking Bruce Brown’s place as the most imminent question mark looming over the Nuggets’ future. Last summer, their sixth man declined a $6.8 million player option to enter free agency. This summer, their fifth man has a $15.4 million player option in his two-year contract. Caldwell-pope’s 2023-24 cap figure is $14.7 million.
“It gets hard not to think about it,” Caldwellpope told The Denver Post. “But right now to me, it’s just trying to get to the playoffs, trying to win another championship, whether I have a player option or not. That’s the least of my worries. It’s just trying to play highlevel basketball, whoever that may be with.”
With the Nuggets seemingly poised to make another deep playoff run, Caldwell-pope is expected as of March to decline his player option and attract a robust market, according to league sources. His perspective? Conversations about a contract decision will “have to wait for toward the end of the season.”
Opting out wouldn’t necessarily equal walking away from Denver. The Nuggets will try to keep Caldwell-pope on the 2024-25 roster regardless. But as was the case with Brown last year, it’ll depend on a variety of factors: Who wins the championship, how the market subsequently unfolds, what Caldwell-pope prioritizes if he’s highly soughtafter, and how far over the luxury tax Denver is willing to spend. The 2023-24 payroll is already $4.7 million shy of the current second apron, a new CBA demarcation that imposes penalties on teams that exceed it for more than one year.
If they do lose Caldwellpope, the Nuggets must be prepared to consider all options, including an offseason acquisition to fill his spot or an in-house promotion. General manager Calvin Booth drafted players such as Christian Braun and Peyton Watson knowing future championship seasons could price out starters like KCP. Ideally, Braun can develop into a capable starting guard. He’s already a promising wing defender off the bench, but his twoway game might not be consistent enough yet to make the leap.
In any case, keeping KCP would be best-case for Denver. So what will it take?
A name that comes to mind as a recent reference point is one of his former teammates.
Danny Green, circa June 2019, was a dependable 3-and-d specialist who had been the fourth or fifth starter for multiple championship-winning franchises.
Green was on an expiring contract in 2019 when he won his second title. He was 31 years old, about to be 32. (Caldwell-pope turned 31 in February.) In his lone season with Toronto, Green started 80 games and 20 more in the playoffs, averaging 10.3 points, four rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 steals. He shot a career-high 45.5% from 3-point range on 5.4 attempts per game.
In 2022-23, Caldwellpope started 76 games and 20 more in the playoffs. He averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals. He shot a careerhigh 42.3% from three on 4.2 attempts. His durability and scoring have stayed similar this season despite a drop in 3-point volume and efficiency (39%).
It’s not a perfect onefor-one comparison, obviously. Green had a bit more length than Caldwell-pope. He contributed a bit more rebounding. Most notably, he had an All-defensive Team appearance on his resume. Caldwell-pope does not, though he has made a commendable run at it this year with campaigning help from teammates.