How Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s arrival is placing emphasis on Magic protection

Veteran swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s arrival in Orlando has rapidly shifted the main target towards protection. The 12-year NBA vet, who signed a three-year, $66 million cope with a participant possibility, brings championship expertise from his stints with each the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers and the 2023 Denver Nuggets.

Caldwell-Pope’s defensive tenacity is already making an affect in coaching camp. Becoming a member of a Magic group that ranked among the many league’s defensive leaders final season, he strengthens their backcourt alongside All-Defensive Second Staff guard Jalen Suggs and is poised to push their protection to new heights.

“That is the primary group that I’ve been on the place everyone likes to defend,” Caldwell-Pope mentioned throughout media day, underlining how his defensive mindset meshes with the Orlando Magic’s tradition. His expertise guarding top-tier expertise is a big asset for a group seeking to construct on final 12 months’s playoff look, the place they misplaced in seven video games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jalen Suggs praises Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s basketball IQ as Orlando’s backcourt protection strengthens

Suggs, getting into his fourth season, has already benefited from taking part in alongside Caldwell-Pope. The younger guard praised his new backcourt associate for his basketball IQ and talent to interrupt down offensive units.

“It’s been nice. I really like watching folks’s thought course of,” Suggs mentioned. “I really like watching folks assume, and to observe him play basketball and see how his mind is working, how he’s breaking issues down. It’s been actually necessary for me, as a result of he’s seen each sort of offensive set, each sort of look in opposition to one of the best gamers on this planet. I really like choosing his mind, it’s been enjoyable.”

Caldwell-Pope’s arrival has given the Orlando Magic some of the formidable defensive backcourts within the league. Head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasised that this defensive mindset is one thing the group will proceed to construct upon, with Caldwell-Pope setting an instance for his youthful teammates.

“Now we have to play to our power,” Mosley mentioned. “Now we have a bodily group, a powerful group, we use our size, we use our athleticism, utilizing our basketball IQ to know when, the place, and the way we will be aggressive. You have a look at KCP, you have a look at Jalen, you have a look at Anthony Black—who’s coming in implausible. Their skill to protect the ball with physicality but in addition figuring out when and the place to do it’s going to be an enormous benefit for us.”

Caldwell-Pope’s championship pedigree units defensive normal for Magic’s playoff ambitions

Caldwell-Pope’s championship expertise has already resonated inside the group. Identified for his defensive versatility, he was instrumental in each the Lakers’ and Nuggets’ title runs, and his voice within the locker room has carried weight. His emphasis on protection because the key to profitable video games echoes inside the group.

“There’s a perception and normal that these guys are seeing,” Mosley mentioned. “KCP is available in and says the issues he says in relation to the defensive finish, figuring out that protection wins championships. Guys register that, they acknowledge it. That is what they’ve been feeling even by means of camp, and it’s solely going to develop.”

With Caldwell-Pope on the forefront, the Magic are well-positioned to construct on final season’s playoff berth. His management and confirmed skill to protect elite expertise will likely be essential as Orlando goals to go additional within the postseason this 12 months.

The Orlando Magic now have a strong defensive core that features Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, with Caldwell-Pope including veteran expertise to assist the group attain the subsequent stage. The main focus is obvious: protection will proceed to be the inspiration of their success transferring ahead, and Caldwell-Pope’s presence has made positive of that.