The Calderon Dilemma

[jeffya2]

Trade Calderon --- not a chance. There's a reason why so many teams are looking @ him & BC knows this & that's why he said "we will match any trade offer" But if Uric shows good promise next year TJ will be gone probably early in the year after he is "show cased healthy" We paid big money to free up Uric for a reason

[SCF99]

I am with the group that seems to be leaning towards trading one, mostly because the development of some one like Ukic or some other second tear with potential (not an older E-wok) as a back-up point.The money would be better spent toward a 3...I first voted yes but should have voted no,with the preferance to be toward JMC staying....

[saham]

It seems like more people are leaning towards keeping both which is the safe bet right now due to TJ's medical history. I agree with the OP who said that it would be impossible to keep both of them happy if we signed Calderon. It would be a big risk to let Calderon go and play TJ Ford heavy minutes as our starting point guard. Thus, if we keep Calderon, we would have to showcase TJ Ford at the start of next season and prove that he can stay healthy.If a reasonable offer comes along, we would have to trade him for an expiring contract and a backup pointguard so that we can make a run at a big free agent in the 09 season. I think, this is what Dagger is pointing at but IMO by keeping both pointguards, it would be hard for us to get the cap room that everyone is talking about.

[J Dilla]

Like I said in the other Calderon thread,

The Raptors should trade both for a good player or two good players. If they could get us a big and a good wingman, why not do it? That's all it comes down to. The Raptors don't need to spend so much on a PG.

[Ill Mago]

if they renounce to renounce... does that mean they announce?

[dagger]

-= original quote snipped =-



I read/heard somewhere that Josh smith decilned an extension with Atlanta. It looks like that he wants more than 12 million and a long term contract? So if Atlanta throws 14+million at Josh Smith where do they get a point guard to put them over the hump just like we need a SF to become a contender. Also, they can move someone like Shelden Williams to make room to sign Calderon ? Do you think they would keep Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Josh Childress and not improve their point guard position when they have an opportunity to sign an emerging point guard such as Calderon ?

There are assorted problems with that scenario.

1. The caphold for Smith is $6.7 million, and with this year's cap and Atlanta's future obligations, that would leave a maximum of $10 million for signing Jose with the prospect Atlanta is wasting its time. If the cap rises, which apparently is not a sure thing this year, add whatever increase occurs to the $10 million.

2. Josh Smith will be a target for any team with cap space. He is a fan favorite. They cannot lose him. He is probably the most coveted wing player of all those in free agency. They cannot sit back and wait for Jose and for the Raptors on matching an offer, they have to deal with Smith head on from the start of free agency. I could imagine him in Memphis with Rudy Gay; that would be showtime, perhaps the one big signing Memphis would consider since it would sell tickets.

3. Atlanta has serious ownership constraints that preclude it from adding significantly to payroll. There is a big legal fight between two factions of the ownership, and either faction can veto any significant transaction. If the Hawks were to sign Jose for more than $10 million, sign Josh Smith to the max of $13 million, the Hawks would, after adding another six players, have a payroll in excess of $65 million, which is unthinkable for that organization - and they would still lose Childress for nothing. Just as we are better off signing Jose and contemplating a trade down the road, Atlanta is better off signing Smith and Childress and trading Marvin Williams or even Joe Johnson to get a point guard.

[mintsa]

Yes, BC will resign him. Jose wants to play here.

[emfive]

I am thinking along with others that BC might get some tempting offers for Jose. But while mere mortals like ourselves might be tempted by such offers, BC will have to come up with a strategy way outside the ususal box in order to mitigate the circumstances he would put the Raps in with such a trade. Our PG situtation is not one to be quickly and decisively explained or resolved by saying we need to trade one of the two. The very fact that makes Jose preferable to an iquiring team would make TJ a risk as the only PG left. The fact that their combined presence makes us a much better team bepseaks of weaknesses elsewhere that need to be dealt with and would make keeping both at this time a necessity.

At any rate all this does not preclude anything from happening but it will take a GM with nerves of steel and an extremely creative plan to pull this off.

And oh .... I voted yes ... they will still be here.

[saham]

-= original quote snipped =-

3. Atlanta has serious ownership constraints that preclude it from adding significantly to payroll. There is a big legal fight between two factions of the ownership, and either faction can veto any significant transaction. If the Hawks were to sign Jose for more than $10 million, sign Josh Smith to the max of $13 million, the Hawks would, after adding another six players, have a payroll in excess of $65 million, which is unthinkable for that organization - and they would still lose Childress for nothing. Just as we are better off signing Jose and contemplating a trade down the road, Atlanta is better off signing Smith and Childress and trading Marvin Williams or even Joe Johnson to get a point guard.

Okay I wasn't aware of the ownership constraints in Atlanta, I thought they were willing to spend more if they can start making the playoffs.
A line up of
Calderon
Joe Johnson
Josh Childress
Josh Smith
Al Horford

sounds scary and would help Atlanta become better than Toronto and Cleveland in the east.

But since, the owners are not willing to spend much i guess we don't have to worry about them taking Calderon from us.

I hope BC is willing to go over the cap without any interference from that fcuk Richard Peddie, because if we want to become contenders we would definitely need to go over the cap.

[Sun Tzu]

While everyone is thrilled with the idea of 2 starter quality point guards, the question you have to ask isn't whether that is a good scenario but rather, if it is a better scenario to have 1 and a genuine starting-calibre SG/SF. Ideally, you move one of them.

The only question is whether you are confident enough in TJ's health to deal Calderon (unlikely), or whether you can find a taker for TJ given his health issues who will return you anything of value.

[Alfred]

While everyone is thrilled with the idea of 2 starter quality point guards, the question you have to ask isn't whether that is a good scenario but rather, if it is a better scenario to have 1 and a genuine starting-calibre SG/SF. Ideally, you move one of them.

The only question is whether you are confident enough in TJ's health to deal Calderon (unlikely), or whether you can find a taker for TJ given his health issues who will return you anything of value.

I think we could land something a bit better than "starting quality" in a wing player for Jose Calderon. While some on the Chicago board have scoffed at the notion, others are ligitimately interested in persuing a Calderon/Deng transaction. While the actual S&T is tricky due to their BYC status, it sort of gives you a picture of what Jose Calderon is worth.

Borderline all-star is what Jose is, and what he is worth (perhaps even more considering his potential). Deng for example was garnering buzz last year for representing the Bulls, and he is still young with a decent amount of upside. Deng for Calderon seemed impossible a few months before this season, but now they are considered similar sized "fish" in the NBA talentpool.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were similar deals for Calderon, featuring young, talented swingmen, who would instantly become the best 2/3 on the Raptors. People seem to be thinking that he's going to be cheap this offseason, but I'm thinking that he will be in the 11 Million category should a team with the need have the money.

Should we resign and keep Calderon? I would really, really need to look at the deals that are on the table. On one hand, he is a great, great offensive player, but on the other, what if the deal is incredibly good? You have to consider them.

[Sheenmue]

I'm not sure about this, but if Arenas decided to opt-out this offseason in Washington, could the Wizards be interested in Calderon? Considering they have 2 all stars -i'm not sure what's the curret situation of Jamison-, a point guard like Calderon probably would be more suitable in that team.

[sule]

I'm not sure about this, but if Arenas decided to opt-out this offseason in Washington, could the Wizards be interested in Calderon? Considering they have 2 all stars -i'm not sure what's the curret situation of Jamison-, a point guard like Calderon probably would be more suitable in that team.

i'd like to see that, just b/c it would infer that Washington thinks Calderon is a better player than Arenas

[Japen]

Hotlanta will not offer the money needed to get Calderon. We should look at signing Calderon, and packaging Ford for a SG/SF once Ukik comes pver

[Champipple]

I don't get what the dillema is...

BC has publically stated time and time again that he's re-signing Calderon.

TJ is untradable in his current condition.

They will both be back next year. Maybe down the road having them both will be a problem, and BC will deal with it at that time.

[emfive]

I don't get what the dillema is...

BC has publically stated time and time again that he's re-signing Calderon.

TJ is untradable in his current condition.

They will both be back next year. Maybe down the road having them both will be a problem, and BC will deal with it at that time.

Short. concise, accurate!

[The_Critic]

There's NO WAY we keep both PG's.

No matter who you think is better, lets face facts, if BC wants to get THE MOST out of "his PG" (whoever he favors) he needs to let that PG take ownership of the team and to play starter minutes. If we keep splitting minutes between two PG's it will eventually limit both of their ceilings.

We have to deal one of them in order to upgrade at the wing position. We're not getting a high draft pick, we never have luck in free agency, so if we're going to get to the next level you have to give something to get something.

What's with this short-sighted, pessimistic level of impatience towards our team? This time last season everybody had high hopes and dreams. Colangelo has only had two offseasons under his belt thus far and has only had draft picks in one of those offseasons with the exception of acquiring Printizes (sp.) from the Spurs.

It's funny how people on here swear that they are all cut out to be NBA GM's and are now not suggesting, but instructing what BC needs to do to make us a better team. I wonder if he reads this site and just laughs out loud sometimes.

Look. It is not in the best interest of the team to act in haste and trade away 48 minutes of elite point guard play, especially considering the youth of our core. Like a few people have already mentioned, a decision like that to trade one of our point guards shouldn't be made until at least 09 when we have an idea what level of play Bargs, Ukic our draft pick and free agent signings, and quite frankly the rest of the team are providing us on a consistent basis.

Could we use a better SF? Sure. But at what cost? Calderon or Ford? I'll pass and I'm sure BC would too. BC has been one to trade our "nothings" and receive difference makers, "i.e. Rafael Araujo for Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley (who was later waived), Fred Jones (who was a last minute signing after Salmons who is currently playing great ditched us) for Juan Dixon. Let's pause for a second and think about that. If BC got what he wanted initially and we acquired Salmons, would we really be having this conversation now?

Trust in BC. Let him do what he does.

[dacrusha]

I don't get what the dillema is...

BC has publically stated time and time again that he's re-signing Calderon.

TJ is untradable in his current condition.

They will both be back next year. Maybe down the road having them both will be a problem, and BC will deal with it at that time.

/thread.

There is no dilemma.

Calderon is a budding all-star and TJ is untradeable.

Jose will re-sign with us this summer and we will have the #1 PG duo in the league next year.

[Monty2]

Can someone explain the process for resigning Jose?
When is the earliest BC can offer Jose a contract?
When is the earliest other teams can offer Jose a contract?
Do players generally take an offer from another team to see what their own team will do?
Can Jose accept a contract from another team and then negotiate with BC or are the only two options is for BC to match or Jose to accept the other offer?

[Grizzled]

This is such a tough issue to call right now because there are sooo many variables still very much up in the air. I still favour keeping both of them, but the more expensive Calderon gets the harder it is to keep TJ. I think TJ is tradeable now or in the off season if need be but it would be for something like expiring contracts or a trade exemption. People who have inside info on his medical reports would know for sure, but I think that one of the reasons TJ would be tradable is that his condition is unlikely to make him a long term salary risk for a team. A player like Alvin Williams, otoh, became a cap drain for us because his injury slowed him down but it didn