Growing belief Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will leave Nuggets; Magic to strongly pursue him

Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Reporting on free agents LeBron James, Paul George, Klay Thompson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Haywood Highsmith, Caleb Martin, Tyus Jones, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, and Brandon Ingram and Cam Johnson trade talks on @hoopshype. hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumo… – 2:41 PM

Evan Sidery @esidery
The Pacers are a team to watch for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, per @msinger.
Indiana would only be able to acquire Caldwell-Pope via sign-and-trade due to their current cap situation.
The Magic, Pacers and Sixers are the potential suitors for Caldwell-Pope. pic.twitter.com/6v7Svl8oWI – 12:09 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Among the items in here:
* How KCP to Indiana could work
* How Hawks-Pels trade timing could be key
* Warriors CP deadline
* Grizzlies and Bulls cap/tax situations
nytimes.com/athletic/live-… – 12:06 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
What will the Nuggets do in free agency?
I expect them to add two rotation-ready veterans at their biggest positions of need: Point guard and center to back up Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
Also, my read on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s future.
thednvr.com/nuggets-free-a… – 7:03 AM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NEW for @MileHighSports
DeAndre Jordan will be back in the Mile High City on a one-year deal.
The Nuggets have reportedly signed 12 players.
3 roster spots are open, while KCP, Vlatko, and Holiday remain free agents.
milehighsports.com/veteran-deandr… – 11:26 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
My guess is that Paul George kind of grinds a lot of league business to a halt these next few days.
Like, Hartenstein and KCP sort of need PG’s situation to settle because they’ve been linked to Orlando and Philly. And other guys need THEM to settle, and so on, and so on. – 4:52 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Surprise Pickaxe and Roll episode!
Weekends with @SwipaCam LIVE in about 10 minutes discussing Paul George, Klay Thompson, KCP, Zeke Nnaji, and fake trades/signings.
youtube.com/live/JL5Qi_B1N… pic.twitter.com/RV6W9lJ2DA – 6:39 PM

Dave Early @DavidEarly
New slop deluge… PG game of chicken btw GSW, LAC, PHI, ORL, and who knows who else, Mia?
KCP, Klay, and finally a possible price in draft picks for Ingram? Lots of analysis of latest Sixers rumors
libertyballers.com/2024/6/28/2418… – 5:50 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
In an NBA era where teams are winning championships on the margins, the Denver Nuggets are attempting to get back to the same level, with the second apron looming and a big KCP decision on the horizon. The story, is here – nytimes.com/athletic/55992… – 5:42 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
I guess with how angry everyone is at this tweet I should probably clarify. They will either re-sign KCP or sign someone else with the taxpayer MLE, a potential bench contributor. They will also sign minimum deals, but don’t be surprised if that’s retaining current free agents. – 5:19 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
By the way:
@SwipaCam and I discussed Calvin Booth’s comments on KCP from the draft and the plan surrounding Christian Braun starting.
youtube.com/watch?v=i8TbSq… – 1:08 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
So, my belief in Denver being *just fine* with losing KCP in free agency is contingent upon upgrading the bench unit.
DaRon Holmes will help, but he’s a rookie.
Salary dumping Reggie Jackson isn’t helping.
There better be a larger plan than organic growth. – 12:09 PM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
What we’re hearing on Paul George (are the Warriors a real possibility?), Klay Thompson, KCP, Chris Paul, the Rockets’ star hunting and more, w/ @anthonyVslater, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/55990… – 11:30 AM

Evan Sidery @esidery
The Nuggets do not plan to enter a bidding war to retain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, per @espn_macmahon (podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bri…).
If a team offers a high annual value to Caldwell-Pope out of their price range, they will let him walk. pic.twitter.com/02YzPOIx5l – 8:19 AM

Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Jam PACKED show starts now. Some BIG topics.
Jamal Murray “moving towards” $200M extension
KCP opts out, Reggie dumped
Hangover takes on DaRon Holmes
How do we feel about
📺 youtube.com/live/ADEyzCIHv… pic.twitter.com/tSk0yjeb6x – 6:42 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Going LIVE for today’s show
– Hangover Takes on DaRon Holmes
– Reggie Jackson traded
– KCP declines option
– Two-way contracts
📺 Tune in: youtube.com/live/ADEyzCIHv… pic.twitter.com/PKdoPm1APy – 6:41 PM

Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
The Denver Nuggets are heading into free agency $18 million below the $189.5 million second apron with 11 players after trading Reggie Jackson to Charlotte and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope opting out.
If the objective is to re-sign Caldwell-Pope and field the roster while staying – 5:45 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Denver’s updated salary cap projection for the next five seasons, including KCP opting out and Murray extending for the max. pic.twitter.com/EVKaQYv69J – 4:26 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Denver’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is declining his $15.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season to become a free agent, sources tell myself and @ShamsCharania Caldwell-Pope – a two-time NBA champion – is expected to receive interest from multiple teams with cap space – 4:05 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope declining his player option was always a lock to happen. If he leaves, free agent Eric Gordon is someone I could see the Nuggets pursuing. – 4:03 PM