NBA Notes: Sixers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Warriors, Mario Hezonja, Timberwolves

Sixers

The Sixers apparently aren’t finished adding familiar faces around LeBron James.

Veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is negotiating a buyout with the Grizzlies and intends to sign with Philadelphia once he clears free agency, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

That would reunite Caldwell-Pope with James after the two won a championship together with the Lakers in 2020.

Caldwell-Pope, 33, is owed $21.6 million in the final year of his contract, though Memphis has little reason to keep him around after shifting toward a younger roster. The Grizzlies have already traded Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. this offseason.

The Sixers can only offer Caldwell-Pope the veteran minimum. A one-year deal would pay him roughly $3.88 million, though Philadelphia still has some cap maneuvering to do before officially adding both him and James.

Caldwell-Pope is also represented by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent.

His numbers have dipped considerably over the past two seasons. Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points while shooting 31.6 percent on 3-pointers in 51 games for Memphis last season before undergoing season-ending finger surgery.

Still, Philadelphia isn’t asking him to be a scorer. At his best, Caldwell-Pope has been a dependable perimeter defender and floor spacer with championship experience. On a minimum contract, that’s the type of gamble contenders tend to make.

Warriors

The Warriors are among the teams showing interest in veteran forward Mario Hezonja, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

Cleveland has also been linked to Hezonja, as we’ve relayed previously, and the Cavaliers remain in the market for help after James chose Philadelphia.

Hezonja, 31, has spent the past six seasons overseas after five years in the NBA. The former No. 5 overall pick is looking to make his way back to the league.

Golden State, of course, was another finalist for James. So perhaps it’s no coincidence that some of the teams that missed on LeBron are now looking at the same alternatives.

Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards and new backcourt partner LaMelo Ball are already working on building some chemistry in Minnesota.

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Edwards and Ball are organizing a trip to Paris to work out with center Rudy Gobert.

The hope is to get as many Timberwolves players together as possible.

Ball arrived this offseason in the blockbuster trade with Charlotte and now joins Edwards in what should be one of the NBA’s most fascinating backcourts.