Los Angeles Lakers: 3 former LeBron James teammates to avoid in free agency

3. Jose Calderon

The Lakers are familiar with Jose Calderon, who they had in for a brief run as a part-time starter during the 2016-17 season.

The following year, Calderon filled the same role for LeBron’s Cavaliers, averaging 4.5 points and 2.1 assists in 16.0 minutes per game. When it was needed, he stepped up and provided savvy playmaking, steady ball-handling and accurate shooting to help Cleveland win its fourth straight Eastern Conference title.

Last season with the Detroit Pistons, however, Calderon looked every bit of his 37 years of age.

Known best for his shooting, Calderon’s field goal percentage dropped from 50.3 percent in Cleveland to 37.5 percent in Detroit, and his 3-point percentage went from 46.4 percent with the Cavs to 24.6 percent with the Pistons. His defense was bad and he even turned the ball over at a higher rate than he had previously.

Pistons head coach Dwane Casey brought in Calderon after the two worked together during Calderon’s prime years with the Toronto Raptors, but even Casey couldn’t justify giving him a significant role on a team that struggled to sneak into the playoffs in the East.

Would Calderon really be able to benefit a team that is trying to win it all in the West?