Jose Calderon: Which Team Makes Sense to Acquire the Spaniard?

Dec 2, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) reacts against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Nets won 98-93. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

$15,111,239 Reason not to Acquire Jose Calderon

Besides his strengths and weaknesses as a player, there are more factors in play when trying logically determine which teams would benefit from Jose Calderon’s skills.

At this point in Calderon’s career, he is no longer a viable starting point guard, but is still a very serviceable role player off the bench. With $15,111,239 remaining on the books for two more years after this season, it would make little to no sense for any teams in the lottery to acquire his skills. Any team in or near the lottery should have either cheaper options, or younger prospects that they can develop instead. Much like how New York wants to rid themselves of Calderon to free up time for the development of Langston Galloway, and of course free up the salary cap for the potential upcoming summer free agents.

The only teams that would be willing to pay the remainder of his contract, would be teams in the Playoff picture currently, who are desperately lacking a quality point guard off the bench. The potential trade would have to be deemed, and seen as a move that puts the team over the top in the title contending race. So for example, a team like Detroit won’t have a need for Calderon, even with the Piston’s starting point guard Brandon Jennings’ devastating season ending injury. There is no need to pay such a high price to fill Jennings’ role, especially with the Pistons stuck in NBA mediocrity status.

Next: Which Teams in the Eastern Conference Can Use Calderon's Skills?