The Philadelphia 76ers have been busy throughout the offseason as they look to make a serious run at winning their first championship since 1983. The Sixers have not been able to get over the hump in the Joel Embiid era as they have not been past Round 2 since 2001, but with the moves they made, the hope is that 2027 will be different.
The Sixers brought in Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti, LeBron James, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the midst of a serious roster overhaul in the 2026 offseason. The guidance of Mike Gansey as the team's new President of Basketball Operations alongside Bob Myers and Jameer Nelson has completely changed this roster.
Caldwell-Pope won a title with James in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers
and he will look to play meaningful basketball again after a tough season with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025-26:
I just want to get back to playing meaningful basketball. Like playing for something like you saying for another championship. I say that area again, that spotlight, you know, the playoffs, man. Ain’t nothing like it, man. And in the competition. The competitiveness. Just I want it. I still got a lot of years in me. I can still go.
Caldwell-Pope's co-host suggested that he should start over VJ Edgecombe in the starting lineup, and there were some points that made sense, but Caldwell-Pope is just here to play a role and help the Sixers in 2026-27:
For me, like I said, it's not personal. I'm coming in to give my team 110% and you know KCP. I'm gonna do that each and every night. I'm gonna be available. If I don't start, I wanna be 6th Man.
KCP on reuniting with LeBron James in Philly:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) August 1, 2026
“I just want to get back to playing meaningful basketball. Like playing for something like you saying for another championship. I say that area again, that spotlight, you know, the playoffs, man. Ain’t nothing like it, man. And in… pic.twitter.com/s7cxrxGDi0
The Sixers will certainly lean on Caldwell-Pope in a lot of instances. He's somebody with a ton of experience, can help on both ends of the floor, and has played with James before. He's going to be such an important piece to this group as Philadelphia heads into the future in 2026-27.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope discusses joining Sixers after free agency
