There is a sudden interest in point guards at this stage of free agency as most teams have their starters in place, but several teams are looking for veteran backups to help with depth. Over the weekend Ty Lawson was traded to the Houston Rockets leaving several teams hanging in search of backup help. The Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks were all showing interest and the New York Knicks could come in to help.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Jose Calderon could still be available for trade deals at this point in the offseason. When Phil Jackson took over the Knicks one of his first moves was acquiring Calderon from the Dallas Mavericks. However, the point guard spent most of the season injured and the Knicks finished as one of the worst teams in the league. Jackson tried very hard to trade away Calderon and his contract, but there were no takers. However, could there be some interest now?
According to Chris Mannix of SI.com, the Lakers, Pistons, Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets were all options for a trade of Lawson. With that out of the picture, could Calderon be in? Players like Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Jennings and Matthew Dellavedova have all been considered available, but would be expensive to acquire. Calderon would likely come with a cheap return rate considering the Knicks are finding success with Jerian Grant in summer league play.
According to Newsday.com, Grant is showing positive signs in being able to pick up the triangle offense and lead the team. That does not mean he is penciled in as the starter for the Knicks, but it does mean he can play valuable minutes and push Calderon to the side.
"We really enjoy having his playmaking ability out there, his vision and his comfort level handling the basketball," coach Derek Fisher said, via Newsday.com. "To play the guard in our system, both guards have to be able to make plays. Jerian gives us a little bit of versatility in that way."
It is unclear exactly what role the Knicks see for Grant as he could be a starter or bench reserve with Langston Galloway playing the opposite. Regardless, his success hurts the minutes for Calderon and makes the veteran expendable in the coming months before the season starts. The Knicks are still eyeing free agents to add to the roster and extra spot created by a Calderon trade would not be a bad idea.
