Nuggets Champion Reveals Mindset Ahead Of Free Agency.
The 11-year NBA veteran has a $15.4 million player option for 2024-25; if he declines it, he will become an unrestricted free agency in the summer. As a result, two options arise. One will guide him back to the Mile High. The other person will lead him out of it.
With only a dozen games left in the regular season, Caldwell-Pope’s decision is approaching. But first, he’ll have to worry about the postseason. Caldwell-Pope, a two-time NBA champion, has more rings than anyone in his draft class, including Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 31-year-old told The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando that “it gets hard not to think about it.”
“But right now, it’s just about getting to the playoffs and winning another championship, regardless of whether I have a player option.” That is the least of my problems. It’s simply trying to play high-level basketball, no matter who it is with.”
Caldwell-Pope “is expected as of March to decline his player option and attract a robust market,” according to The Denver Post. However, those discussions “have to wait for toward (sic) the end of the season.”
However, it’s worth mentioning that Caldwell-Pope inked a two-year, $30.1 million deal extension to remain in Denver last offseason. His admiration for the Nuggets and their winning ways is obviously significant.
When asked how he sees Denver’s starting lineup, Caldwell-Pope believes it “might be the best five I’ll play with.”
This season, the five-man unit has outscored opponents by +14.0 points per 100 possessions. Last season, Caldwell-Pope’s first with the Nuggets, they outscored opponents by 12.6 points per 100 possessions. Regardless of their starting lineup’s overall talent, his performance is critical to their success.
On offense, the 3-point specialist averages 10.4 points per game and shoots 40.9 percent from distance. Caldwell-Pope, on the other hand, has taken on many of the team’s most difficult defensive responsibilities, thanks to his determination and athletic ability. In that time, he’s also averaging 1.4 thefts per game, which leads the squad.
