Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the biggest offseason addition the Magic signed this summer. For some people, it was sort of a disappointment. Fans had already envisioned the Magic with a former All-Star like Paul George or Klay Thompson or an offensive-minded contributor like D'Angelo Russell or Malik Monk.
Instead, the Magic decided to double down on their foundation and brought in a high-level 3-and-D guy with championship experience. Despite some initial disappointment, the move is widely regarded as a good decision that will help the Magic grow.
The Eastern Conference has gotten better, though. Paul George joined the Philadelphia 76ers, and the New York Knicks look like a real force. Adding that to the star power already on the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, as well as the up-and-coming Indiana Pacers, makes for a packed conference.
Wins won't come easy in the 2024-25 season, and the Magic still have plenty of things to sort out. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a big part of that. So, let's look at three questions he will have to answer immediately.
3. Can he replicate his 3-point shooting?
Outside shooting was one of the Magic's main offensive issues last season. They had few reliable volume shooters and even fewer players opponents feared from behind the arc. Not only did the Magic finish the regular season as one of the best 3-point shooting teams, but Orlando also took the second fewest threes across the league.
That needs to change, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will have to lead the charge. After all, he shot 40.6 percent from three last season with the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, Jalen Suggs was the only Magic player last season who took at least four threes per game and shot close to forty percent.
Hitting threes will be Caldwell-Pope's prime responsibility on offense, so an important question is whether he can replicate his great 3-point shooting from last season. The answer seems obvious. Yes, he can. He shot over 39 percent in all of the last four seasons.
While his three-point shooting is probably one of the Magic's smallest concerns, Caldwell-Pope will have to show right away that he can be a reliable floor spacer for the team.
2. Can he increase his shot volume and scoring?
The Magic have two go-to scorers right now: Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Neither was a great 3-point shooter last season, and both are still very young. Especially in the playoffs, it seemed that the Magic would benefit from bringing in another player who can just go get a bucket and help carry the scoring load.
The Magic did not bring a player like that to Orlando. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a great 3-point shooter and addresses several needs for the team, but he is not a volume scorer. He averages only 9.5 field goal attempts per game for his career and took less than that in the past two seasons.
Orlando has fewer offensive weapons than Denver, however, and there are more shots to go around. Will Caldwell-Pope be comfortable increasing his shot volume and scoring?
The answer should be yes. He did it in his last three seasons with the Detroit Pistons. If he could do that, it would work wonders for the Magic's offense. He doesn't necessarily have to do anything too far out of his comfort zone, but simply taking more threes could already make a difference. With Denver, Caldwell-Pope took around four threes per game. The Magic will likely need more than that.
1. Can he be the veteran leader this team needs?
The Magic are incredibly young. Last season's playoff run put them ahead of schedule. While we should all expect the team to win a significant number of games, we also shouldn't forget the age of most rotational players. There will still be growing pains with most of them. Even Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are far from being done developing.
Young teams like that need guidance and leadership, and it cannot only come from the coaching staff. Someone on the court and in the locker room will have to take the lead. Last season, Joe Ingles filled that role, but he left in free agency to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
So, someone else will have to step up, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the prime candidate. He is the oldest player on the team apart from Cory Joseph, has championship experience, and will play a big role on the court. Veteran experience cannot be overrated in the NBA, and the Magic will need Caldwell-Pope to fill that role. Especially Jalen Suggs, who is on his way to becoming an elite two-way guard, would benefit from his mentoring.
On the Nuggets, Caldwell-Pope did not always have to be the main veteran voice. That roster was filled with experienced, championship-level players. Orlando is quite a different story, and Caldwell-Pope's experience could make a real difference for them.