It was reported yesterday that veteran guard Jose Calderon would seek a buyout of his expiring contract from the Los Angeles Lakers, which would allow him to sign on with a contending team. Now we know where he will likely land.
Fresh off the news that Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams will sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers after securing his own buyout, it appears that Calderon will take part in the arms race and sign with the Golden State Warriors. Marc Stein reported the news for ESPN.com:
The Golden State Warriors have emerged as the strong favorite to sign veteran guard Jose Calderon once he completes his expected buyout with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that Calderon has the Warriors at the top of his list provided he can negotiate his release from the Lakers by Wednesday, which is the last day this season that players can be released and retain playoff eligibility for their next team.
The Warriors appear to be a perfect fit for Calderon. He isn’t the playmaker that he once was, but he can still shoot the ball effectively, and in Golden State’s offense that particular skill can prove to be very useful.
The Lakers traded for Calderon last summer, receiving two second-round picks from the Chicago Bulls as payment for taking on the $7.7 million left on his deal. The veteran has only appeared in 24 games for the Lakers this season, and with the arrival of young guard Tyler Ennis, minutes were going to be difficult to come by. The Lakers may be able to save a little money with the buyout and also spread a little good will by allowing the well-respected Calderon to go somewhere where his skills may be of more use.
