The media slammed the Denver Nuggets for letting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in 2024 free agency to sign a three-year, $66 million deal with the Magic. KCP's departure weakened Denver while strengthening Orlando, a team poised to make noise in the East. At least, that's what most people thought. Reality told a different story.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.7 points in his first (and lone) season in Orlando, shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.2% from three, the lowest for him since he shot 30.9% from deep during the 2015-16 season in Detroit.
Less than a year after everyone praised the Magic for bringing in a championship wing, Orlando traded him to Memphis as part of the Desmond Bane deal.