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Jose Calderon

Offseason, Strike 3: Dallas Mavericks Season Preview

Starting Five: PG Jose Calderon, SG Monta Ellis, SF Shawn Marion, PF Dirk Nowitzki, C Sam Dalembert
 
Key Bench Players: G/F Vince Carter, G/F Wayne Ellington, F Brandan Wright
 
Offseason Additions: Additions: Ellis, Calderon, Dalembert, PG Shane Larkin, G Ricky Ledo
 
Offseason Subtractions: SG Ovinton J’Anthony Mayo, C Chris Kaman, PG Darren Collison, PF Elton Brand
 
FACT OR FICTION: The Mavericks are a playoff team.
 
FACT, barely. Honest admission? I actually wrote “Fiction” before seeing that not only the MAMBINO aggregate has Cuban’s boys in the 8-slot, but your boy BK himself slid them in at 7.
 
But a closer look has made me realize that the West, by virtue of various reasons, has become very top heavy this year. Unlike years past, there isn’t going to be a solid 9-seed this season. Dallas will sneak by with guile, with heart, and under the tutelage of the most underrated coach in basketball: Alvy, a one-time contributor to the MAMBINO team.… Read more...

Instant (and Not So Instant) Trade Analysis: Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon to the Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks get: PG Jose Calderon (four years, $29 million) and G Monta Ellis (three years, $25 million)
 
In a move that says “why play defense when you can just not play defense”, the Dallas Mavericks capped off a very disappointing two summer run trying to get another free agent to add to 2011 Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki.
 
The Mavs doled out their first multi-year deals in two offseasons by adding what amounts to a starting guard rotation. Calderon and Ellis look like the starters at the moment, simply judging by their annual salaries, over rookie PG Shane Larkin (who broke his ankle last night in Summer League and looks to be out until October, at least).
 
On the surface, this is a series of somewhat puzzling moves for the Mavericks, who seem to be spending money just because they have it. It might seem that way because it’s not terribly far from the truth. In the past two years, the Mavericks have swung and missed at free agents like Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala and Deron Williams. To make matters worse, in order to do so they almost completely dismantled their 2011 title team, allowing C Tyson Chandler, G JJ Barea and G DeShawn Stevenson to all walk. Though that team was unlikely to repeat, they were essentially given no chance, as the pitiful 2011-2012 Mavericks were swept aside in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder.… Read more...

Instant Trade Analysis: Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors get: F Rudy Gay, C Hamed Hadaddi
 
Detroit Pistons get: PG Jose Calderon
 
Memphis Grizzlies get: PF Ed Davis, SF Tayshaun Prince, F Austin Daye, Toronto’s 2nd Round pick
 
The Grizz finally jettisoned Rudy Gay out their hallway this afternoon, shunting off the extremely talented but often disappointing forward off to Toronto in a three-way deal that also involved the Detroit Pistons.
 
Today’s trade was the culmination of years of speculation. Gay had been on the block for years, ever since he was notoriously absent for the Grizzlies’ greatest run of success in their Western Conference semifinals loss two seasons ago with a shoulder injury. The summer before, Gay had signed a near-max contract extension with Memphis, paying him $82 million. Usually, money like that isn’t an issue with a team–after all, do you think Houston is blinking at the $80 million dollar price tag attached to James Harden’s beard?
 
The biggest problem with Gay’s contract wasn’t how well the team played without him, but that Gay simply hasn’t improved and shown himself worthy of his massive payday. Since his second season, Gay has remained nearly the same player–an athletic specimen who could use his size, strength and speed to get anywhere he wanted on the court, but simply lacked the outside shooting touch or post game to dominate on all angles. His statistics are extremely telling–season after season, he essentially looks like the same guy. Defensively, he remains an above average player, but offensively there hasn’t been much progress to his game. Just watching against other small forwards like Andre Iguodala and Luol Deng, it’s clear that Gay has more physical gifts than either–and yet, both have the All-Star credits to there name that Gay does not. There’s something to be said about fulfilling potential in this league, even if that player is still providing better than average production. Deng and Iguodala play extremely hard every night, and seem to hit whatever ceiling is in front of them. Gay as still left us wanting year after year.… Read more...