Knicks Trade Rumors: Jose Calderon Still Prevalent In New York Knicks Trade Chatter
Knicks trade rumors still include point guard Jose Calderon as the NBA trade deadline approaches. These New York Knicks trade rumors revolve around the team dealing Calderon to eliminate the impact he will have on the salary cap for the 2016-17 NBA season. It’s a tough position for Calderon to be in, especially when he has done nothing but be a good teammate in New York. A report from ESPN.com addressed how Calderon may be dealing with all the trade talk and about what he is focused on right now.
So why does Calderon keep getting mentioned in NBA trade rumors? It is because the New York Knicks are floundering and are looking to deal players not named Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis who will count against the cap next year. Calderon isn’t an expensive option, as he makes about $7.4 million this season and about $7.7 million next year. The Knicks want to free up that money to pursue other free agents, though, and the team may need to add a scoring point guard.
Jose Calderon hasn’t played badly for the New York Knicks, but he is more of a distributor than an offensive threat. He has started every game he has played for the Knicks, averaging 28.8 minutes over his two years in New York. His other game averages are 8.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Calderon has also been a good shooter, hitting 41.1 percent from three-point range and 89.2 percent from the free throw line. Those could be really good numbers for a playoff team needing to add depth at the point guard position.
Most recent New York Knicks trade rumors have stated that the team won’t do much before the February 18 trade deadline. The team had been linked to Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, but Knicks president Phil Jackson doesn’t really want to give up young assets to get it done. There was also a big trade rumor about sending Carmelo Anthony to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team deal that would net the Knicks several draft picks from the Boston Celtics. Nothing significant came from those rumors or possible negotiations.
If the Knicks are successful in trading Jose Calderon, even if it brings back salaries for this season, the team would go $7.8 million more under the salary cap next season. If Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams opt out of their contracts, the Knicks would have about $12.6 million extra on top of that. It would drop the Knicks to less than $44 million in guaranteed salaries for the 2016-17 NBA season. That could possibly allow Phil Jackson to pursue two max contract free agents in the offseason.
The front office might not mind paying luxury tax penalties if the New York Knicks finally have a good product on the floor again. The Knicks don’t have a first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, though, so they won’t be adding a top-tier college player unless a trade comes to fruition. The Denver Nuggets control it from the Carmelo Anthony trade, but it could wind up with the Toronto Raptors if the Knicks finish with a better record than the Nuggets this season. Adding an elite college player to the Raptors would certainly help them in the Eastern Conference race.
There are likely to be even more New York Knicks trade rumors as 3 p.m. ET on February 18 draws closer, but fans shouldn’t expect Phil Jackson to make any major moves. Jose Calderon is certainly the most likely player to be traded before the deadline, but several other veterans could become involved if the Knicks enter a deal as a third or fourth team.
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