Magic count on ‘Playoff KCP' to show up when it matters most
Magic count on 'Playoff KCP' to show up when it matters most
When the Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last summer, it was because he's been a high-level shooter.
And it was hard to blame team president Jeff Weltman.
Caldwell-Pope had shot 40% or better from 3-point range in three of his past four seasons (the outlier being 39%) and was a part of two championship teams in the Nuggets (2023) and Lakers ('20).
Advertisement
His shooting prowess, however, took longer than expected to translate in Orlando.
During the first 33 games, through Dec. 29 against Brooklyn, Caldwell-Pope shot 28.9% on 4.8 attempts from 3.
He has since turned things around, and all it took was one game.
On Jan. 1 at Detroit, where he spent the first four years of his career, Caldwell-Pope shot 4 of 6.
Just like that he quickly returned to form and has shot 40.1% on 4 attempts from 3 across 42 games entering Tuesday night's Play-In Tournament game vs. the Hawks.
The threat of Caldwell-Pope's accuracy has spread the floor for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who thrive by attacking off the dribble to create their own shots..
Advertisement
And whether the Magic advanced to the first round to No. 2 Boston or host the winner of the Nos. 9-10 Play-In game that takes place Wednesday night between Chicago and Miami, Caldwell-Pope has to be a postseason threat to give them a chance.
'KCP said he lives for these moments,' Wendell Carter Jr. said before the Magic hosted the Hawks. 'He was telling us we're going to see the 'Playoff KCP,' so we all know what that looks like.
'We've all seen what he's done in the postseason in recent years.'
When Caldwell-Pope won his first championship with the Lakers, he shot 37.8% on 5.7 attempts from 3 in 21 playoff games.
Advertisement
Three years later when he won his second ring with the Nuggets, his 3-point accuracy improved to 38% on 4.6 attempts in 20 games.
The Magic only had two players who appeared in at least six of their seven games in the first-round series against the Cavaliers shoot above 32% from distance: Banchero (40% on 5.7 attempts) and forward Jonathan Isaac (37% on 3.9).
It's where Caldwell-Pope can be a difference-maker should the Magic advance to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
'He's going to help us so much on both ends of the court,' Carter said. 'His shot-making ability and the way he can defend, him leading not only with his voice but by example, is going to help us take that leap.'
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
34 minutes ago
- New York Post
Magic acquire Desmond Bane from Grizzlies in blockbuster NBA trade
The Magic seem to sense a big opportunity in the Eastern Conference, and they're pushing their chips in. Orlando is acquiring standout Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap, according to multiple reports. That includes the No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft, per The Athletic. 3 The Magic have acquired Desmond Bane (22) from the Grizzlies. NBAE via Getty Images Bane, who turns 27 later this month, averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 69 games for Memphis this season, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, including 39.2 percent from deep. Over his last four seasons as a full-time starter, Bane has averaged 20.2 points, 5 rebounds and 4.3 assists and is a strong two-way player. Bane signed a five-year, $207 million max contract extension two summers ago and has four years remaining on his deal. 3 The Grizzlies have acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) from the Magic. NBAE via Getty Images With a strong young nucleus featuring Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, the Magic — who as the No. 7 seed lost to the Celtics in five games in the first round — are poised to make a leap in a wide-open East next season that will see Boston compete without Jayson Tatum, who could miss the entire season after tearing his Achilles against the Knicks in the second round. The Magic are paying a heavy price for Bane, though they'll be pleased to rid themselves of the rest of Caldwell-Pope's contract, as the wing — a strong defender — averaged the fewest points (8.7) since his rookie year. He has two years left on a three-year, $66 million contract that he signed with Orlando last summer, the final year of which is a player option. Caldwell-Pope, 32, does have two championship rings, one with the Lakers and another with the Nuggets. 3 The Grizzlies have acquired Cole Anthony (50) from the Magic. NBAE via Getty Images Anthony, the 25-year-old who played high school ball at Archbishop Molloy in Queens, averaged 9.4 points, 3 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season in a reserve role. The former first-round pick is entering the second season of a three-year, $39 million contract which carries a club option for 2026-27. The Grizzlies were swept by the top-seeded Thunder in the first round after firing head coach Taylor Jenkins shortly before the playoffs.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Grizzlies trade guard Desmond Bane to Magic in blockbuster deal
Hear this story The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to trade guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, as well as four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap, A person with knowledge of the trade confirmed the deal to USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt. The person requested anonymity because he's not authorized to speak publicly until the trade is official. ESPN first reported the trade on Sunday. Memphis will also receive Orlando's first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, No. 16 overall, plus the Phoenix Suns' first-round pick in 2026, and the 2028 and 2030 unprotected first-round selections. The 26-year-old Bane just completed his fifth NBA season, where he averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for a Memphis team that finished 48-34 and was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. Orlando is an up-and-coming team in the Eastern Conference led by All-Star forward Paola Banchero and forward Franz Wagner, but has been eliminated in the postseason's first round in each of the past two years.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Desmond Bane trade grades: Who won the stunning Grizzlies-Magic deal?
Desmond Bane trade grades: Who won the stunning Grizzlies-Magic deal? Orlando is sending to Memphis the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Phoenix's first-round pick in 2026, Magic 2028 unprotected first-rounder and Orlando's 2030 unprotected first, sources said. Pick swap is lightly protected in 2029. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2025 Changes were always likely for the Memphis Grizzlies after a season in which star point guard Ja Morant struggled in a new offensive system, head coach Taylor Jenkins was fired nine games before the playoffs and the team suffered an embarrassing first-round sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. What those changes would look like, however, were a mystery until Sunday. And the first domino to fall is a stunning one, as the Grizzlies have agreed to trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for an incredible haul of picks and players, ESPN's Shams Charania reported. Let's get into the details of the deal and grades. Details of the Grizzlies and Magic deal GRIZZLIES GET: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four 1st-round picks (2025, 2026, 2028, 2030) and 2029 first-round pick swap MAGIC GET: Desmond Bane Grizzlies grade: Memphis just re-tooled for next season (or kickstarted a rebuild) and the team hasn't even moved its two best players, with Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. still on the team. Before we even get to the draft picks, swapping Bane for Caldwell-Pope and Anthony gives the Grizzlies more depth on the wings without sacrificing much in the way of shooting (if Caldwell-Pope can bounce back from a down year). If the Grizzlies want, they could run it back next season with the team as currently constructed and match this year's 48-win total -- if not exceed it. But to be clear, grabbing four first-round picks and a pick swap in a deal for Bane is the big win here, even if Orlando's likely status as a playoff contender in the foreseeable future keeps those picks out of the lottery. The 2025 pick gets Memphis back into this year's first round, and the other picks give Memphis the flexibility to swing for a bigger star this summer if it so chooses -- or continue a full blow up, with a nice treasure chest of picks to start anew. GRADE: A+ Magic grade: The logic for Orlando is easy to follow here. The actual deal is a hard one to swallow. Bane is the exact type of player the Magic needed in a lineup that was bereft of shooting, as he's one of the best snipers in the NBA as a career 41 percent three-point shooter. With stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in place, Orlando is ready to win now, and the Eastern Conference might be ripe for the taking with injuries (and costs) ravaging the Boston Celtics. Here's the thing, though: the Magic just pushed their chips all in with this deal, and Bane isn't exactly an all-in kind of player. Especially not for a team that had the league's 27th-rated offense. He alone isn't coming close to fixing that. They'll desperately need some improvements from within for him to even have a marginal impact in how far they can go. I'll cut the Magic some slack in the fact that the 27-year-old Bane is under contract through 2029, so he fits perfectly into their window of pushing for contention. I'm just not sure he expands the window much. GRADE: D+
