[torontoraptors10Participant]

On the list of missions accomplished in the first half of the Toronto Raptors’ schedule, getting Jose Calderon to play up his trade value must surely be at the top.

Yet when general manager Bryan Colangelo and head coach Dwane Casey and his staff do their blue-skying for next season, and figure out the point-guard ‘what-ares’ in the upcoming draft, the trade ‘might-be’s’ and free-agent possibilities, they may well reach an obvious conclusion: the Raptors might be best-served keeping Calderon.

“We’re trying to hold on to him and keep him, but he has played his way into a very high status as a point guard,” Casey said Wednesday, before the Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons 103-93 to hit the halfway point of the NBA’s condensed 66-game regular-season schedule with a .303 winning percentage (10-23.) “A lot of teams have been calling and wanting him.”

Casey’s task was straightforward heading into this season. He was to teach defence to a whole team of unbelievers, make sure that DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis continued to develop, figure out what he had in odds and ends such as Amir Johnson, James Johnson and Jerryd Bayless, see if Andrea Bargnani has any backbone to his game – and make sure Calderon played up his trade value.

Unstated, yet very much hoped for, was that they be just bad enough to hit the mother-lode in the draft lottery.

Yet something happened over the course of the Raptors’ seven-game homestand, during which they went 2-5. Calderon went off, averaging 16.7 points, 11.1 assists and just under 35 minutes, including setting career highs in points (30) and field goals (13) in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Wednesday, he had 15 assists for the second time on the homestand, to go along with six points. He is, as Casey noted, one of the Raptors’ best shooters but he has also had more ups than downs defensively. “Last year was just a parade of paint points starting with him and then the big guy,” Casey said.

Not so in 2011-12. Yes, Casey has managed culture change. It was noticeable as early as the first home game, a bruising 90-85 loss to the Indiana Pacers, when Roy Hibbert called the Raptors a different team. Bargnani was an early season revelation until a strained calf caused him to miss 20 of the past 22 games; DeRozan has been inconsistent but Wednesday’s gem is a nice memory to carry into the second half: 23 points including 9-for-15 from the field and a growing balance between his jump shots and attacking the rim. Davis is still a work in progress but with another off-season of added bulk can at least be a usable sixth man. James Johnson is carving out a role for himself and Aaron Gray may be in the process of doing so, too.

Gray was one of six Raptors in double-digit points Wednesday and hauled down 12 rebounds. He went to the line six times in a two-minute span in the fourth quarter, hitting just two but adding a layup as the Raptors saw an 18-point lead whittled to nine. Gray was serenaded with chants of ‘M-V-P.’

“It is what it is,” he said later, shrugging. “It was exciting. We need to put some things together for the second half.”

Casey’s team had a four-day break to mull over a 98-91 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats that still stuck in Casey’s craw heading into this contest against a team – the Pistons – that is also trying to enact culture change after a season that saw the club slip into rebellion. Casey worked on late-game execution, and while he wasn’t entirely happy at least there was no meltdown. He did like the fact that his team appeared to regain its defensive focus. “We took about three steps back against Charlotte,” Casey said. “We exhaled.”

Which brings us to the 30-year-old Calderon, who has one year and $10,561,985 (U.S.) remaining on his contract. There are Raptors fans who would have taken the Pistons’ Brandon Knight fifth overall in the draft instead of the big Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas. But Knight – who had 16 points in a game in which Casey went to the whip in a first-half huddle, tearing into his big players for letting the Pistons’ quick guards have free run – went eighth and isn’t exactly a pure point guard, and the fact is that this draft is deep in every area but the point.

So if the Raptors do end up in the lottery any point guard they’d take would be a horrible reach. Trade for a point guard? With what? Calderon – another point guard? Free agency doesn’t offer a great deal either. Deron Williams isn’t coming here. Beyond that? There isn’t much.

Calderon’s bought what Casey is selling. And perhaps Wednesday, Casey was doing some selling of his own – to his boss. “That is why we need Jose,” said Casey. “That’s the argument for him. He gives us stability. You need that leadership.” Calderon has gone from being an inhibitor to a facilitator. What once seemed so clear-cut is no longer the case. Full credit to Jose Calderon.

VIA Globe and Mail Toronto

——————————————————–

Should the Raptors keep Calderon or trade him?

What are the reasons to keep Calderon?

• Contract is expiring
• Good leader for the Raptors
• Bought into Casey’s System
• Who will take the PG position? Can Raptors rebound in the draft by choosing a PG?
• Casey says he brings leadership and stability to the team

Why should they trade Calderon?

• They have a chance to get Wilson Chandler
• Even though the Raptors will most likely get a top 5 pick, could they trade that pick down, select a PG and get somebody who can bring an immediate change to the Raptors?
• Calderon’s D is questionable in Casey’s system
• Gray was getting MVP chants when he went 12 and 12. That says something
• Raptors’ fans need to look forward to something
   

What do you guys think? What should the Raptors do? What can the Raptors get for Calderon? And what trade scenarios do you see happening that could benefit the Raptors and the other team involved?

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

This would be a dream come true. He is a good PG, was incredibly valuable as a back-up and for a while was playing at almost All-Star level. Than, once he finally had the job, it became fairly obvious he was not a great defender. He is incredibly efficient, almost a poor man’s Steve Nash but not nearly as crafty or valuable to an offense.

The Raps would love to get rid of the last year of his contract next year to go in a different direction. Personally, I think that if they can trade Jose for anything worthwhile, they will do so. I think people still hate bringing up that the Raptors almost got Boris Diaw and Tyson Chandler in a deal getting rid of Jose. If that had happened, no question the team would be in a much better position.

[Scottoant93Participant]

I think they should keep calderon, unless they get a good offer involving a good pg…which seems unlikey.

Jose is not the best pg defensive wise, but the raptors dont have anyone else who can take the over, Anthony Carter is not an nba starting pg, Bayless is an undersized sg, and even though he shows flashes of getting his teammates involved he mostly looks for his own shot.

The solution- Unless you get the right pg in a trade keep calderon, and at the end of the season draft a SF(Barnes/MKG) and try to resign him to maybe a one year contract for less money(he may be willing to since hes been with them so long). If you do trade calderon, I say still draft a SF, and sign a respectable pg in FA  or maybe try to do a deal involving amir johnson or ed davis.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Everyone feels Jerryd is more of a SG than a PG, heck, even I am. But, I feel if the guy has never been given a legitimate chance to play 30 or more minutes per game. When he has this year, he is averaging 21.3 ppg and I believe that assists would come with that. Last year, the 16 games he played over 30 mpg, he was at 18.5 and 6.3 apg. This guy is fantastic at creating for himself and I believe that he would probably add some fuel to DeRozan’s fire.

Calderon is playing REALLY well obviously over his last few games, but there is no way he maintains this pace. I personally do not see him in the Raptors future and would love to move his deal for cap flexibility. I say, give Bayless a chance. Back-ups are a dime a dozen but I still think Bayless has a fire and competitiveness to him that could help this team long term. Would love to see him get a chance to play some starter minutes before giving up on him. Plus, trade Jose while he is showing value rather than waiting until he evens out, which will happen.

[thparadoxParticipant]

 

Agreed. I’ve been saying this since last year… Either Bayless is the future PG in toronto, or there is no future PG here.

If the Raptors don’t do their best to get good draft picks / young talent in a Calderon trade at the deadline, they’re failing to do their jobs.

Same thing if they overpay Wilson Chandler and he ends up coming here. I like both Chandler and Calderon, but they make no sense for a rebuilding team.

I wonder which teams actually want him… probably LAL, Miami, Orlando, Utah, Portland?

Also, the raptors should not feel pressured by position at this point. If there are no PGs where we’re selecting in the draft, we can always trade for a draft pick or try to get a young guy with talent… e.g. Jordan Farmar.

[CodySLCParticipant]

 I think he would be a nice fit in Utah.

[Author]

Posts