Raptors stuck with Calderon

Basketball Betting Lines

08/26/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In trying to trade Jose Calderon earlier this offseason, the message sent by Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo was clear; Calderon was no longer in the future plans of the organization. A deal that would have sent Calderon and Reggie Evans to the Charlotte Bobcats for Boris Diaw and Tyson Chandler was as much about ridding the team of Calderon's tired legs as it was about beefing up a weak frontcourt.

Unluckily for the Raptors, majority owner of the Bobcats Michael Jordan vetoed the trade hours before the players were to be formally swapped. It was a smart move on Jordan's part, as he was well-aware Calderon is no longer the guard that could log 30 minutes a game and lead the Bobcats to success.

The deterioration of Calderon's health in recent seasons has noticeably slowed the 29-year-old and no longer reflects the value of the hefty five-year $45 million contract he signed in July 2008. Considering at the time he had just come off his best season as a pro, it seemed like a good deal, but since the 2007-08 season he's had trouble staying healthy, missing 28 games due to recurring hamstring and groin issues.

It's not as if Calderon has put these injuries behind him either. Just days ago, the six-foot-one Spaniard suffered a torn hamstring in preparation for the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, an injury that will sideline him for at least a month. Unfortunately for the Raptors, if they couldn't move him before this latest setback, they surely can't move him now.

So with that, it looks like the Raptors are stuck with Calderon, but is he finished? The answer to that question is "yes" if head coach Jay Triano forces him into a leading role for another season and "no" if Calderon can be utilized in moderation. Triano should look no further than Calderon's history for some insight into what may help him find success moving forward.

In his breakout 2007-08 season, Calderon shared the floor with T.J. Ford, averaging only 30.1 minutes a night. With an equally talented running mate like Ford to help cover for his defensive shortcomings, Calderon flourished. In a more limited role he was able to score with efficiency while distributing the ball with great accuracy, giving the Raptors' first unit a unique flavor. If the game shifted to a different pace, the Raptors had Ford to fill in as the quicker, better defender of the pair.

When Ford was traded to the Indiana Pacers before the 2008-09 season, Calderon had a chance to cement his status as the team's number one starter. Instead, he showed he couldn't handle the increased workload, breaking down with injuries and fading down the stretch. Calderon averaged 34.3 minutes that season and played only 68 games, never fully adjusting to the role he was expected to fulfill.

Knowing the point guard situation was a problem heading into the 2009-10 season, the Raptors brought in Jarrett Jack from the Pacers last year to help Calderon regain his old form - but instead, Jack usurped the starters role by season's end. Calderon regressed again, posting his lowest numbers in three years, while averaging only 26.7 minutes per game.

Calderon should see a reduction in minutes and responsibility heading into the 2010-11 season, while Jack reaps the rewards because of his strong play. Bringing the speed, length and durability that Calderon has never been able to show, Jack gives the Raptors their true number one guy heading into this season.

Calderon will be given a chance to lead the second unit right out of the gate and in his reduced role, could be of great value to the Raptors. His veteran presence could make him invaluable with the younger players on the team as he has always shown a knack for delivering the ball in the right places. If this season is about the quality of minutes and not the quantity of minutes he plays, the Raptors may find that being stuck with Calderon isn't such a bad thing.