The Detroit Pistons have reportedly agreed to a deal with point guard Jose Calderon. Here is what’s to be expected of the veteran in his second stint with the team.
While the start of NBA free agency has been wild to say the least, the Detroit Pistons have remained relatively quiet.
The one move they’ve made so far – landing Glenn Robinson III — was followed by bringing back 36-year-old point guard Jose Calderon. The proposed contract is a one-year deal worth $2.4 million, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.
This will be Calderon’s second go-around with Detroit, where he played 28 games in 2012-13, after being traded midseason from the Toronto Raptors.
While his first tour of duty with the Pistons was brief, he did start all 28 games he played in and averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He led the league in 3-point percentage that season, averaging 46.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Since his first stint with Detroit, Calderon has played for five different teams in five years, including the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.1 assists in 57 games for Cleveland, filling in as a starter for 32 of those games.
The Spaniard isn’t expected to start for the Pistons this time around. Calderon will serve as the third point guard on the roster, behind Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith.
Though he’s not expected to play major minutes, Calderon is an insurance plan for Jackson, who has missed 67 games in the past two seasons. Calderon can also be a great mentor for the 28-year-old, who has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, but has yet to put it all together.
Calderon will also be a great addition to a locker room boasting great young talent, but in need of veteran leadership.
Not to be forgotten, Calderon can still knock down the occasional 3-pointer. He’s a career 41.1 percent shooter from downtown, and made 46.4 percent of his 3s last year.
While the proposed deal for Calderon in itself is reasonable, there could be more behind the move. Rod Beard of The Detroit News reported this signing could be a precursor for more moves this offseason:
#Pistons deal for Jose Calderon could be a money-saver ... I'm told they're pursuing trades to open up cap space. Potential trade pieces are Ish Smith, Jon Leuer or Langston Galloway.
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) July 2, 2018
If Smith ends up being traded and the Pistons don’t bring in another point guard, Calderon could log more minutes than originally expected. Odds are the Pistons will sign another point guard if Smith does end up being dealt, seeing as Jackson has missed so many games in recent years.
In addition to being Calderon’s second stint in the Motor City, he is also reunited with Pistons new head coach Dwane Casey. Calderon played under Casey for two seasons in Toronto. He started 53 games while playing for Casey in 2011-12, averaging 10.5 points, 8.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.
While it’s not the fanciest of moves, the Detroit Pistons did a solid job bringing in a veteran who can help lead on the court and in the locker room as well. Casey gets an experienced point guard he’s coached before who will help stabilize a talented but unsteady backcourt. Calderon can also be called upon to play important minutes in the fourth quarter and knock down a big shot if need be.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Grade: B