Toronto Raptors Are At a Crossroads with Calderon

To trade or not to trade: that is the question with Raptors point guard Jose Calderon. When Toronto acquired Kyle Lowry from the Houston Rockets, it was assumed Calderon would end up elsewhere. It’s a good thing that hasn’t happened yet, because an ankle injury to Lowry has allowed Calderon to shine at the point-guard position — from an offensive standpoint, at least.

A story attributed to ESPN.com in July said the Raptors and Dallas Mavericks had been looking at options for the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Spaniard, who has spent his entire seven-year career in Toronto since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2005. In the report, Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said Calderon was “not thrilled” with the club’s acquisition of Lowry, and wanted to remain a starting point guard whether it was in Canada or elsewhere.

All talk of a trade abruptly stopped when Lowry rolled his ankle after stepping on the foot of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka on Nov. 6. Calderon did very well in the seven games he started in Lowry’s place, averaging 12.9 points and 11.9 assists.

If he stays north of the border, the 31-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season. After averaging a double-double in his games as a starter, trading Calderon now could give the Raptors maximum value on their asset instead of possibly seeing him go to another team for nothing in return.

The team needs a forward who can come off the bench and provide some late points to help them win the close games they’ve been losing. The latest case in point is their 98-97 defeat Nov. 19 at the hands of the Charlotte Bobcats, which the Raptors might have taken if they had a clutch forward to put into the game in the dying minutes.

With Landry Fields underperforming before picking up a wrist injury and no one on the bench stepping up, their biggest need is for a late-game hero. On the other hand, Lowry is prone to injuries. Moving Calderon means they would have sophomore point guard John Lucas as their primary sub in the 1 spot, and his efforts don’t compare to what Calderon has shown in the past.

It’s a conundrum Colangelo must deal with: take a risk on unloading a proven offensive asset like Calderon in exchange for someone who can (hopefully) help now, or risk keeping him only to potentially lose him in the next off-season and have no one to show for it. His decision could make — or break — the Raptors’ season.