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Los Angeles Lakers: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Carter Johnson

July 5, 2016; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers draft picks Ivica Zubac and Brandon Ingram pose with jerseys with general manager Mitch Kupchak before being introduced to media at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
July 5, 2016; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers draft picks Ivica Zubac and Brandon Ingram pose with jerseys with general manager Mitch Kupchak before being introduced to media at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 24, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) brings the ball up the court during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 91-86. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) brings the ball up the court during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 91-86. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Obtaining Jose Calderon

The Chicago Bulls didn’t hold on to point guard Jose Calderon for long after acquiring him from the New York Knicks in the trade for former league MVP Derrick Rose, shipping him to Los Angeles along with two future draft picks to clear up cap space in order to sign free agent Dwyane Wade.

With Calderon’s current contract set to expire at the end of next season, the Lakers are basically renting out the 34-year-old point guard to back up D’Angelo Russell for a season. Calderon is a solid option as a backup, as he is a solid three-point shooter (41.2 percent clip from downtown for his career), a good facilitator and a decent perimeter defender.

The only qualm with this acquisition is that the Lakers once again possess a crowded backcourt with guards that all need the ball. Calderon now joins scoring guard Lou Williams and ball-dominant, non-shooting point guard Marcelo Huertas in the backcourt coming off of the bench.

Williams will likely retain a lot of minutes for his scoring prowess, leaving Huertas and Calderon to battle for minutes at the backup point guard spot.

Calderon does add some much needed shooting to this bench unit, but it’s not an acquisition that necessarily sparks much of a reaction from fans either way.

Grade: C 

Next: Re-Signing Celo and Tarik

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