Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon
PG - 6’3, 200lbs - 36 years old - 13 years of experience

At this point in his long and quality career, Calderon’s die is entirely cast. Whenever he comes into the game, he will handle the ball fairly securely, spot up from outside, only take shots that are within his remit, make quite a lot of them, be constantly attacked defensively and rarely turn the ball over. All told, that is pretty much the sort of package you want from a third string point guard, and Calderon played his limited role fairly effectively.

By virtue of hitting so many jumpers, Calderon had a good season overall statistically. Hitting 42.6% of his three-pointers overall, and 46.4% in the regular season (most of the playoff 4-18 shooting came in garbage time, so, eh), Calderon was the off-ball spacing, corner and refeeding option he was designed to be. Flanked with the occasional step-in two-point jumper and the very occasional unchallenged foray to the rim, Calderon was an efficient scorer in all areas of the court. And if LeBron James is going to be the primary playmaker whoever the point guard alongside him is, that suits for purpose just fine.

Defensively, Calderon competes as best he can given that he lacks the foot speed, hands, strength and respect needed to make an impact. It is fair to say that by being thought of as a defensive weak point, he automatically becomes one, as opposing teams go at him wherever he can. Nevertheless, third string point guards will always give up more than they give, hence why they are third stringers. Considering the role he was asked to fill, Calderon did it pretty well.

Player Plan:Expiring minimum salary contract. Keep his number on file for if this role is needed again.

Jose Calderon
PG, 6’3, 200lbs, 35 years old, 12 years of experience

Even in the latter part of his career, Calderon is passable as a third stringer still. His shot was off this year, but this is surely just an anomaly rather than evidence of serious decline in by far his most important attrib-ute as a player. Heady and thoroughly undynamic, Calderon showed in game four of the playoffs that he still had good nights left in him. A minimum salary third string option only at this point, but one worth having.

Player Plan: Expiring minimum salary. Would be worthy of another one, but it is very low priority.

[...] In comparison, 36 such players have signed within those parameters in 2013. And in contrast to 2008, those names are often established quality role players who aren't quite stars and who rightly aren't being paid like it. At the top end, players like Monta Ellis, Jose Calderon, Brandon Jennings, Jarrett Jack, Jeff Teague and Carl Landry are all getting acceptable prices, perhaps $2 million annually less than they would have done five years ago. At the bottom end, established role players like Marreese Speights, Tony Allen and Chris Kaman are getting paid adequately for their useful role player production. And unlike in 2008, those deals like Kaman's are not too long. See also Greg Stiemsma, Tyler Hansbrough, Mike Dunleavy Jr, Dorell Wright and Randy Foye, none more than three years in length, some as short as one.

The exact parameters employed here are somewhat arbitrarily chosen, I admit. However, a comparison of some particular players to have been involved in both markets sheds light on the market fluctations. Despite being much the same player, many individuals received very different paychecks. Ellis received $66 million in 2008 and $25.08 million in 2013. Calderon received $45 million in 2008 and $29 million in 2013. Jason Maxiell received $20 million in 2008 and $5 million in 2013. And while Martell Webster received $20,112,000 for four years in 2008, he only received ... well, OK, maybe not him, as he received $21,990,500 for another four years this summer.