Haven't we gone back and forth time and again on the board about whether you can package players in a sign & trade, and the answer is no? or is that in regards to using a trade exception only? You got to love abc's persistence, but fact is that there is a long long way to go until we know what actually is and isn't possible this offseason. there is a 99.99% chance that we can't get Calderon. The Raptors can and should match any offer for him. If the Raptors can be convinced that Ford isn't movable, the Ford/Calderon combo isn't helping them get out of the first round in a relatively weak East, and might as well address another part of the team by trading Calderon, then there are probably other, better packages for them. Last I checked, Battier isn't a 20 ppg type player, even occasionally...the Nocioni idea brought up earlier would be better for them; a S&T for Maggette, also in a sign and trade, would be a great move for both teams, etc. Calderon may say he wants to go to a different team, and the Raps can then say no. All that said, getting Scola for Spanoulis last offseason fell into that 0.01% likelihood of happening scenario, so you never know.
I wanted to go after Calderon last year. Instead, we ended up with James and Francis. I doubt there's any way we get him...but you never know, we stole Scola last year.
Battier was hobbled by his ankle, which means his shot would be off. Didn't you see him limping around trying to defend? Man he was on his last legs and he still gave his all - you will not find that anywhere else. I have tons of respect for Battier after watching the Utah series, much more than I had during the season and previous seasons.
http://www.feb.es/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=11&ItemID=19690 5/14/2008 The basis of the Spanish team and the Toronto Raptors, Jose Manuel Calderon, has offered this Wednesday May 14 a press conference at the headquarters of the Spanish Federation of Basketball in which he has conducted an assessment of its third season in the NBA. On his future in the NBA said that he wants to play "a winning team and aspire to more" but recalled that "Toronto has the final say." "Now the important thing is to sign to start working. I can not talk until July 1, but depends on the interest of the teams," he said.
But he can't shoot or make his teamates better....he is safe, but hardly gets his teamates easier shots. DD
Jose Calderon: Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG 07-08 TOR 82 56 30.3 0.519 0.429 0.908 0.4 2.5 2.9 8.3 1.1 0.1 1.54 1.60 11.2
we need to throw ALL of our effort into getting Calderon!!! Calderon has the intangibles that we value so much, like the burning desire to win, and not just "cash and fun to my own style" like larry hughes. I'd say hes a lot morethan a MLE player so we probably will have to do a sign and trade, but that leaves our MLE for our other targets like Artest which can be a good thing.
^ the dynamics of a sign and trade being difficult were discussed in another thread. With a big raise, Calderon becomes a BYC player, making a sign and trade difficult. Nothing's impossible, but we're talking signing Calderon to a Steve Nash/Chauncy Billups type starting salary, and trading Battier and picks. He'd definitely be a huge upgrade, though. Also, Ron Artest is highly unlikely to opt out for the MLE.
I don't even think Artesr would leave Kings to sign MLE contract... He is a great player and I think he'd be a huge upgrade, because he can defend even better than Shane, he is strong and he could be easily 3rd scorer (what we need) But he has already said that he is not gonna leave Kings...
Ah the old Base Year Compensation issue. We could still trade for him we just need to find a 3rd party willing to do the deal with a trade exception large enough to cover the difference. And toss them a pick or so. DD
if morey has the magic to get Calderon, so be it...but if Rafer will stay and Bobby Jax will be traded, hope we could find a bigger,stronger,quick and an attacking backup PG...im not really high on Francis coming back...brooks is good but he'll be eaten up defensively..
