Jose Calderon Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Cavs Notes: Jefferson, Felder, Calderon, Perkins

October 6th, 2017 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

With 16 players on guaranteed contracts for 2017/18, the Cavaliers will have to trade or waive one of those players within the next 10 days. A report earlier this week indicated that Richard Jefferson‘s hold on a roster spot may be the most tenuous, and Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com confirms that the team has held “early talks” with Jefferson’s agent about the possibility that the veteran forward will be the victim of the roster crunch. Still, no decision has been finalized yet, says Vardon.

Here’s more on the Cavs:

Second-year point guard Kay Felder, whose salary is only partially guaranteed, almost certainly won’t make Cleveland’s 15-man roster. However, he’s hoping to become one of the club’s two-way players, Vardon writes.
Within his latest mailbag for Cleveland.com, Vardon explains why Jose Calderon‘s roster spot appears safer than Jefferson’s. Vardon also discusses Koby Altman‘s performance as GM so far, Cleveland’s early impressions of Derrick Rose, and more Cavs-related topics.
Veteran big man Kendrick Perkins, who is in camp with the Cavaliers in the hopes of resuming his NBA career, admits that he let himself go and developed bad habits during his previous stint in the league. According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Perkins weighed 309 pounds when he left the Pelicans in 2016, but is back down to 267 now. “I couldn’t blame anybody but myself,” Perkins said. “It was a humbling situation being out and not getting a call last season. It was my fault for letting myself just drift off like that.”

Cavaliers Mull Looming Roster Decision

October 3rd, 2017 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

Richard Jefferson‘s hold on a roster spot in Cleveland appears somewhat tenuous, according to reports from Jason Lloyd of The Athletic and Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net.

After signing Dwyane Wade last week, the Cavaliers are now carrying 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts, plus 2016/17 holdovers Kay Felder and Edy Tavares. Even if Cleveland cuts Felder and Tavares, the club will need to trade or waive one more player from a group of candidates that likely includes Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye, Jose Calderon, and Jefferson.

Calderon has been solid for the Cavs so far, according to Lloyd, who suggests that the veteran point guard should be safe, given the uncertainty on the depth chart ahead of him. Shumpert and Frye are considered trade candidates, but their salaries ($10.34MM and $7.42MM respectively) will make them difficult to move.

That leaves Jefferson as the potential odd man out. Unlike Calderon, Jefferson is trade-eligible now, and unlike Shumpert and Frye, his salary is modest, at just $2.5MM. The Cavaliers are exploring smaller-scale trades involving Jefferson, according to Amico, and finding a taker for the veteran forward would be preferable to cutting him, since it would reduce the Cavs’ projected tax bill substantially.

However, Cleveland has gotten no traction on a deal so far, and may end up having to outright release Jefferson or another player, since rivals won’t be eager to help out the defending Eastern Conference champs. If the Cavs do find a team willing to take on Jefferson or someone else, the salary dump would likely cost Cleveland at least one draft pick and/or cash.

Central Notes: LaVine, Jackson, Calderon

September 29th, 2017 at 5:52pm CST by Austin Kent

The Bulls have had a busy week signing Nikola Mirotic and buying out Dwyane Wade. Now, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes, the team will turn its attention to Zach LaVine, their recently acquired guard currently eligible for a contract extension.

“They [the Bulls and his representation] have had some conversations,” LaVine said. “It doesn’t really matter to me. I’m going to let all that take care of itself. I know I’m a big part of this team and I’m excited to be in negotiations with them. I want to be here for a long period of time. If it’s now or later, I know it’s going to be done either way.”

The guard averaged 18.9 points per game for the Timberwolves last season before tearing his ACL last February. He, along with Kris Dunn and the No. 7 pick ended up with the Bulls in the Jimmy Butler deal.

Just yesterday we wrote about how the Bulls’ front office was clear about their intentions to build around a core that featured the 22-year-old dunk contest champion. Whether that means committing to him on the heels of a significant injury before he even suits up for a game, however, is a whole other question.

There’s more from the Central Division:

After four months resting and recovering from knee tendinitis, Reggie Jackson has officially returned to contact practice. The Pistons guard was able to get through his most recent test pain-free, Rod Beard of the Detroit News writes, but will need to work his way back into game shape. “I’m happy to be feeling good each and every day. The best thing is to wake up and be pain-free; even if [I’m] sore, it’s really body soreness and nothing with the knee. My legs may be a little fatigued because I’m getting back to the swing of things,” Jackson said.
Consider Jose Calderon‘s role with the Cavaliers in danger, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The Cavs have 16 players on guaranteed deals and the 36-year-old veteran doesn’t have the upside that somebody like Cedi Osman has.
The Pacers were among the 28 teams that supported draft lottery reform, Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star writes. Indiana’s support for the new system is particularly interesting considering they’re a small market team perceived to face inherent challenges recruiting talent via free agency.

Cavaliers Notes: Thomas, Crowder, Calderon, Draft Picks

September 2nd, 2017 at 6:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

New Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas will begin working with doctors and the team’s training staff on Tuesday, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Thomas, whose lingering hip injury held up his trade from the Celtics for more than a week, says he is “fully committed” to playing for the Cavs this season. Several sources told Vardon that the team will take Thomas’ return to the court slowly, but he is expected to return to an All-Star level at some point.

Dr. James Rosneck, a hip specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, will oversee Thomas’ rehab work with help from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Parker, who serves as the Cavaliers’ lead doctor. The team plans to gauge how Thomas responds after a week and then a month of the process before creating a timetable for his return. He suffered a partially torn labrum in his right hip in a March game, then aggravated the injury in the Eastern Conference Finals.

There’s more today out of Cleveland:

A source with experience in similar hip problems suggests Thomas may not be able to play until January or possibly after the All-Star break, relays Jason Lloyd of the Athletic. Lloyd notes that the injury hasn’t healed enough for Thomas to begin running.
Jae Crowder plays the same position as LeBron James, but the Cavs don’t view him as a backup, Vardon adds in the same story. Coach Tyronn Lue is developing lineups with James and Crowder on the court together, assuming the new addition remains in Cleveland. Crowder’s versatility, combined with team-friendly salaries of $6.8MM, $7.3MM and $7.8MM over the next three years, could make him a valuable piece in a future trade.
Free agent addition Jose Calderon started working out in Cleveland more than a week ago, Vardon notes. The 36-year-old could be facing an increased role as the primary backup to Derrick Rose if Thomas is out for several months.
It didn’t take long for the Cavs to get calls about the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year, Vardon shares in the same piece. With its own pick as another possible trade chip and several second-rounders and trade exceptions available, the Cavaliers’ front office believes the team is in good position to deal for another title chase or for a rebuild if James leaves in free agency next summer.

Jose Calderon Signs With Cavaliers

July 10th, 2017 at 8:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

JULY 10th, 8:06pm: The signing is official, according to a press release on the team’s website.

JULY 1st, 8:05pm: Veteran point guard Jose Calderon has agreed to a deal with the Cavaliers, according to a tweet from his agency, Priority Sports.

Calderon, 35, will receive a one-year contract for the league minimum, which will pay him about $2.3MM, relays Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, although it will only count roughly $1.47MM against Cleveland’s cap. Facing potentially huge luxury tax payments, the Cavs have been searching for inexpensive help for their bench.

The addition of Calderon may be a sign that free agent Deron Williams won’t return to Cleveland after signing with the team in late February.

Calderon split last season between the Lakers and Hawks and put up career lows in scoring, assists and field goal percentage.

Central Notes: Pistons, Felder, Mirotic

July 9th, 2017 at 5:57pm CST by Austin Kent

There’s little doubt that the Pistons will benefit in the short-term from bringing Avery Bradley in as a replacement for the much costlier Kentavious Caldwell-Pope but make no mistake, Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News writes, they’re taking a big risk.

While Bradley is further along in his development as a perimeter stopper and boasts a more capable offensive game, the Pistons gave up considerable long-term security knowing that Bradley will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Essentially, Wojnowski adds, the Pistons were ready to shake things up and move on from the 24-year-old Caldwell-Pope but in doing so expose themselves to a greater threat of ultimately losing Bradley for nothing. Considering the upside after a stagnant 2016/17, it’s a gamble that a team in Detroit’s position couldn’t turn down.

There’s more from the Central Division:

The Cavaliers have brought in Jose Calderon to man their backup point guard position but that doesn’t mean Kay Felder is entirely out of the running, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. “Whoever plays the best will play,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “It’s not like Kay is out of it. He’s just got to continue to grow, get better, and he’s going to continue to get better.“
A panelist of Bulls writers discussed the prospect of restricted free agent Nikola Mirotic returning to Chicago, with ESPN’s Nick Friedell ultimately saying that the Bulls may have a pre-established limit to how much they’ll spend to retain the big man’s services and if he can land that from another organization, they’ll let him leave.
A solid performance in the Orlando Summer League helped Eric Moreland land a job as the No. 3 center for the Pistons. “I think he’s an active big that really understands pick-and-roll defense,” Pistons associate head coach Bob Beyer told Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.

Cavaliers Notes: James, Randolph, Osman, Billups

July 1st, 2017 at 11:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

LeBron James doesn’t plan to do any recruiting for the Cavaliers this summer, reports Dave McMenamin 0f ESPN.com. The move may be a protest against the organization’s decision not to re-sign David Griffin, whom James supported. Regardless, it’s a change in behavior for the team’s most prominent player, who lobbied Kevin Love, Mike Miller and others to come to Cleveland in prior years.

The Cavaliers have been targeting two veterans to serve as backups: point guard Jose Calderon, who signed with the team today, and power forward Zach Randolph. Other teams chasing Randolph have more money to offer than Cleveland does, and McMenamin suggests that a call from James might tip the scales in the Cavs’ favor, but so far nothing has happened.

There’s more tonight out of Cleveland:

In the absence of a GM, assistant GM Koby Altman is handling free agency, McMenamin adds in the same story. The Cavaliers are still negotiating with Chauncey Billups to take over the front office, and he has been in touch with Altman and owner Dan Gilbert regarding the team’s strategy. However, Billups seems in no rush to accept the job and will make his BIG3 League debut on Sunday.
The Cavs are talking to draft-and-stash prospect Cedi Osman about joining the team next year, McMenamin relays in the same piece. The 6’8″ forward out of Macedonia was the 31st pick in the 2015 draft and was part of the deal that sent Tyus Jones to the Timberwolves.
Cleveland’s GM job has lost some of its appeal, according to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. Cap concerns, front office turmoil and the possibility that James might leave next summer have created a difficult situation for whomever steps into the position.
The signing of Calderon displays the dangers of the repeater tax, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN.com. Adding the veteran guard only counts $1.5MM against the cap, but it raises the Cavs’ tax bill from $16.4MM to $20.4MM.

Mutual Interest Between Jose Calderon, Cavs

July 1st, 2017 at 8:17am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have targeted veteran free agent Jose Calderon to be their backup point guard, reports Jason Lloyd of The Athletic (via Twitter). According to Lloyd, the interest between the Cavs and Calderon is mutual.

Calderon, who will turn 36 this fall, saw his production fall off in 2016/17, as he averaged just 3.4 PPG and 2.1 APG in 41 games with the Lakers and Hawks. The Spaniard’s shooting percentages (.410 FG%, .313 3PT% also represented the worst marks since his rookie season. Still, it appears Cleveland is willing to bet on him having a bounce-back year in 2017/18.

Last season, the Cavs finished the year with Deron Williams as their backup point guard behind Kyrie Irving. Although Williams provided some solid minutes during his time with the team, he looked overmatched in the NBA Finals against the Warriors, making just two of 16 shots in that series.

Assuming the Cavs aren’t able to shed salaries, their ability to add free agents this offseason will come down to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.2MM) and the minimum salary exception. If they’re able to work out a deal with Calderon, I’d expect it to be worth the minimum.

Hawks Notes: Howard, Calderon, GM Search

May 9th, 2017 at 8:14pm CST by marksuleymanov

It has been a tough few weeks for Hawks center Dwight Howard and the morning of the Hawks‘ Game 6 loss Wizards on April 28 may have been his lowest point. Howard, 31, was pulled over at 2:06am for speeding, going 95 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to a police report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After running a check, the police report adds that Howard was driving with a suspended registration and without insurance. The eight-time All-Star received a ticket for driving without insurance, a verbal warning for speeding, and his car was towed. Things did not improve in Game 6, where Howard totaled just nine points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes as Atlanta was eliminated from the postseason.

The Atlanta native recently expressed frustration with his lessened playing time during his exit interview, as Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote. “It was very difficult,” Howard told reporters. “I want to play. I want to be out on the floor. I want to make a difference. I want to make an impact, and I can’t do that on the bench.” With Atlanta searching for a new general manager, it will be interesting to see where Howard fits in with the Atlanta for the remaining two years of his contract.

Here are some additional tidbits of Hawks news:

With Mike Budenholzer no longer the president of basketball operations, the Hawks are searching for a viable replacement but the process is currently in its “infancy stage,” relays Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). Wes Wilcox was recently removed from the GM role with Budenholzer stepping down as president but remaining as head coach. As Vivlamore adds, the Hawks are “trying to determine the attributes” of their desired candidate.
Veteran point guard Jose Calderon had a well-traveled 2016/17 campaign, starting as a reserve with the Lakers; being signed and released by the Warriors before suiting up; and playing an important role off the bench for the Hawks. The 35-year-old may not be a starter at this point in his career he still believes he can be effective, NBA.com’s KL Chouinard writes. Budenholzer continuously used the word “spirit” to describe Calderon’s impact and it’s that same spirit that believes he wants to continue in the NBA. “I want to just concentrate and play here two or three more years or whatever I can.”

Southeast Notes: Winslow, Oubre, Calderon, Delaney

March 26th, 2017 at 11:23pm CST by Milo Taibi

Justise Winslow turned 21 on Sunday, spending his birthday away from the team as he continues to recover from a torn right labrum. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra used the occasion to point out Winslow’s potential, while mentioning the character he’s built at this stage of his career.

“He still has had a productive year of improvement,” Spoelstra told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. “A summer of improvement, where he and J-Rich [Josh Richardson] were two of the top five players in the Orlando summer league; his summer improvement in August and September; the kind of preseason he had was terrific. Then he got hurt with his wrist. Going through all of that, I think, is important for a young player, and even going through adversity, can find a silver lining out of this. Even though it’s not ideal, it does develop character.”