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The Detroit Pistons trade for shooting guard Avery Bradley all but officially means Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will not return to the team that drafted him in 2013.
The Pistons are renouncing their qualifying offer on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. This means KCP is now a restricted free agent and can more easily navigate the free agency waters looking for his next home. The Pistons no longer have the right to match any deal offered to KCP.
While no official word has come from the Pistons organization regarding the trade or KCP’s future, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press spoke to a source who provides about as much confirmation as we’re likely to get.
And source also confirms to Free Press: #Pistons are prepared to move on from KCP. Roster is at 12 and looking to add two more guys.
— NerdOnTw1tter (@Vincent_Ellis56) July 7, 2017
Caldwell-Pope is thought by many to be the top restricted free agent on the market. At the start of free agency the Pistons had the ability to match any offer sheet giving to KCP up to the max of roughly $24 million per season.
The team, however, signed Langston Galloway, using an exception that hard-capped Detroit and meant barring a subsequent move could only offer KCP a deal in the $17 million range.
With the trade for Bradley that number is even lower and there is no sense they will make another big move just to open up space to bring back a player that plays Bradley’s position.