Calderon

[Erik Eleven]

Per the wiretap

One position, two players who now have stated publicly they want it. Welcome to Bryan Colangelo's dilemma. Jose Calderon said on his personal website that he wants to be a starting NBA point guard, which is the same position coveted by T.J. Ford.

Calderon's posting was his first public declaration that he wants the No.1 job. "I want to be a starter and be in a team that aspires to everything," he wrote. "I will not be on a team in which I cannot be an important contributor."

However, Calderon really doesn't have much to say about where he plays next season. Because he is a restricted free agent when his contract expires July 1, the Raptors can match any offer he gets from another team, a move Colangelo has repeatedly said he will make.

I know that we have a solid PG duo in Fish and Farmar and I'm a big believer in Farmar's future as a starting NBA PG.

I also realize that Colangelo will match pretty much any offer to keep Calderon around.

However, if Calderon says in public that he wants to be a starter on a contender, he probably means it. So, even if they re-sign him, there is reason to believe that he might be a disgruntled player we could go after around the trade deadline.

I'd be willing to give up Luke and Farmar to get him. Maybe more. This guy is a great playmaker.

Thoughts?

[Slava]

I'd add Farmar but giving up Luke would be trusting Ariza's health and Radmanovic more, which I'm not comfortable with.

[crazyeights]

I love Calderon, but that's because he was on my fantasy team and would throw out 14 assists every other game.

I unfortunately haven't had the opportunity to watch the Raptors more than the 2 games a year with the Lakers.

I am more than impressed by his play making abilities...how's his defense?

[iamworthy]

Keep Luke, Dump Vlade.

[crazyeights]

J-far, that's true with our lineup now. But if Bynum gets back and Lamar/Gasol slide down a position, then we have way too much money and talent wrapped up at the small forward position.

No way we keep Lamar/Luke/Vlad/Ariza(/Newble) after this season. There is now way.

[Slava]

^^Well, I wouldn't consider Newble a factor but yeah I understand your reasoning from a financial stand point and I;d have loved to trade Vlade instead of Luke but they already have Kapono and Bargnani to chuck 3s and not defend/rebound at all so there isn't much incentive for them.

[Tommy Trojan]

I do not believe Farmar will be a starting PG for us anytime soon. Backup maybe not a starter, he does not understand the game very well, does not have the mindset for this team. So i can care less if we trade Farmar.

I would not mind if we trade Vlad, I thought he would be better in the mix but just does not seem that way.

With Ariza I still need to see him play a little more before I can make up my mind as far as trading him. But, as far as right now I would like to keep him because I dont think he will ask for a lot of money.

Luke is a keeper, no questions about that.

Lamar is also a keeper if we can afford him.

[crazyeights]

Sorry but let me at you saying Farmar doesn't understand the game.

And J-Far Newble was in parenthesis to indicate that he most likely won't be on the team, but I'd see him excepting garbage minutes better than Vlad or Luke (and for a lot cheaper).

So for that reason he was added.

[0HeadAche0]

i know this is a forum and we have to find things to talk about but i'm not sure we really need to make any trade at all.

Farmar sometimes convinces me he will be great but at other times he doesnt, but thats all part of being a young player.

all irrelevant anyway as it won't happy, i think fans need to understand you can't just go making trades all the time, this team will be together for a long time maybe 3-4 years.

[milesfides]

As much as I like Farmar's potential, fire, work ethic, and Luke's passing, "yeast" qualities, I would Jesse James this deal if it came our way.

I love this guy since last season, I thought he'd be perfect as the lead guard in the triangle offense. I thought we would have had a shot last summer or earlier this year, especially after rumors of Colangelo shopping Calderon to get a pick in last year's draft. To me, that's a strong signal that a player is available, so I thought it would be a good time to steal such a relatively underrated great point guard.

Despite playing as reserve last year, his play was clearly starting-caliber, among the league's best actually, in terms of ballhandling, passing, and shooting.

But I think the opportunity to get him passed us by...back when TJ Ford was clearly the starter and Calderon still just a "quality" backup.

This season, Ford's injury allowed Calderon to show his stuff, and he was phenomenal as a full-time starter. In the process, Raptors fans fell in love with him, while Ford's attitude seem to precipitate a falling out, and Colangelo undoubtedly has seen how the team is better under Calderon.

Not only do I think the Raptors will do everything to keep Calderon, but I'm convinced they'll actively try to move Ford. There appears to be some truth behind all the rumors of Ford's unhappiness when Calderon was starting. Calderon's newly reported desire to start as well just about kills the coexistence between these two guards. Neither plays remotely as well off the bench. I think one or another has to go, and at this point, I think TJ Ford clearly has to go.

And I think there would be a market for TJ Ford. He has a long contract but it's at 8m a year, which is reasonable considering he averaged 14 points and 8 assists as a starter, all with great percentages. There is some health risk, but certain teams desperate for a quality point guard, such as the Hawks, Clippers, etc.) might find that risk acceptable.

[hermes]

Keep Luke, Dump Vlade.

would the raptors take him?

[Erik Eleven]

would the raptors take him?

Unfortunately not so likely, I think. I'd much rather see Vlad go than Luke at this point, too. They won't take on Vlad because of Kapono, like someone said.

I'm on the VladRad bandwagon, but he needs to turn it up right about now or worry about getting moved this summer. I want to see some pressure shooting from him in pivotal situations.