HT to aldomilan who raised this point in the comments section of Arsenalist's article "Weems is a RFA in 2011 – What to do?"
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The Raptors should keep Calderon unless they can trade him for a better point guard. The reasons are simple enough
1. There is a significant benefit to having a solid backup point guard like Calderon
I think many Raptors fans may have forgotten what it is like to have a lousy backup point guard. It is pretty bad even if you play a slow down half court game.
Having a good if not above average or better backup point guard is a real benefit especially if your #1 point guard gets injured and even when they pick up two early fouls and/or play a game in foul trouble.
The Raptors have no one else beside Calderon that can adequately, when you look at his entire game, backup Jack. This is the reason that I have said that if BC is to trade Calderon he should only trade him for a better point guard.
When Turk was here you could make the argument that the Raptors could use him when Jack was out. However, thankfully, Turk is long gone. So the Raptors do not have anyone who can adequately back up Jack. Brown and Stinson may look decent enough in the summer leagues but I doubt very seriously that either of them can bring the production that Calderon does. I also, as opposed to some other posters here, do not believe that Banks would be an adequate backup point guard for the Raptors.
For all the talk about Calderon's bad defense and it is bad here is a comparison of three key stats between Jack and Calderon for 09-10. Jack's numbers on the left, Calderon in the middle and Banks career numbers to the right
PER------------------------16.3---------16.5------12.2
Offensive Rating--------116-----------119--------99
Defensive Rating--------115-----------116------107
Net Rating-----------------+1------------+3-----(minus 8)
WS/48--------------------.102----------.111------.057
So Calderon actually had slightly better advanced stats than Jack did and Calderon had a sub-par season in 09-10.
2. The Amir Johnson Connection
On top of that Calderon has a lot better on court chemistry with Johnson than Jack does. I think that this is the case because Calderon is a pass first point guard and in my opinion a better, though maybe not as spectacular a passer as Jack is.
As I pointed out in the comments section of the article mentioned above Johnson ranked #1 in all of the those categories (PER, Net Rating and WS/48) among returning and new Raptors. I don't think anyone would argue that Johnson's offense does not benefit significantly by playing alongside Calderon
Johnson numbers were
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PER – 16.7 #2 on the Raptors only behind Bosh
Off Rating – 124
Def Rating – 110
Net Rating – Plus 14 #1 on the Raptors (league average is zero)
WS/48 – .150 #2 on the Raptors only behind Bosh (league average is .100)
Bosh’s numbers
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PER – 25.0
Off Rating – 117
Def Rating – 111
Net Rating – Plus 6 (league average is zero)
WS/48 – .182 (league average is .100)
So in PER, Net offensive – defensive rating and WS/48 Johnson ranks #1 among all returning and new Raptors. (Anyone who cares to can verify this statement and if I am incorrect I would appreciate it if they would point it out. Thanks)
Johnson seems to benefit on offense by playing alongside a good point guard who thinks assists before points. This was true in Detroit where his offense even though nowhere near as advanced as now, not that it hasn't got a way yet to go, benefited by playing alongside Billups as opposed to Iverson or Stuckey. The latter two who like Jack are more shoot first point guards than Calderon and Billups are.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/
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The Raptors should keep Calderon unless they can trade him for a better point guard. The reasons are simple enough
1. There is a significant benefit to having a solid backup point guard like Calderon
I think many Raptors fans may have forgotten what it is like to have a lousy backup point guard. It is pretty bad even if you play a slow down half court game.
Having a good if not above average or better backup point guard is a real benefit especially if your #1 point guard gets injured and even when they pick up two early fouls and/or play a game in foul trouble.
The Raptors have no one else beside Calderon that can adequately, when you look at his entire game, backup Jack. This is the reason that I have said that if BC is to trade Calderon he should only trade him for a better point guard.
When Turk was here you could make the argument that the Raptors could use him when Jack was out. However, thankfully, Turk is long gone. So the Raptors do not have anyone who can adequately back up Jack. Brown and Stinson may look decent enough in the summer leagues but I doubt very seriously that either of them can bring the production that Calderon does. I also, as opposed to some other posters here, do not believe that Banks would be an adequate backup point guard for the Raptors.
For all the talk about Calderon's bad defense and it is bad here is a comparison of three key stats between Jack and Calderon for 09-10. Jack's numbers on the left, Calderon in the middle and Banks career numbers to the right
PER------------------------16.3---------16.5------12.2
Offensive Rating--------116-----------119--------99
Defensive Rating--------115-----------116------107
Net Rating-----------------+1------------+3-----(minus 8)
WS/48--------------------.102----------.111------.057
So Calderon actually had slightly better advanced stats than Jack did and Calderon had a sub-par season in 09-10.
2. The Amir Johnson Connection
On top of that Calderon has a lot better on court chemistry with Johnson than Jack does. I think that this is the case because Calderon is a pass first point guard and in my opinion a better, though maybe not as spectacular a passer as Jack is.
As I pointed out in the comments section of the article mentioned above Johnson ranked #1 in all of the those categories (PER, Net Rating and WS/48) among returning and new Raptors. I don't think anyone would argue that Johnson's offense does not benefit significantly by playing alongside Calderon
Johnson numbers were
————————–
PER – 16.7 #2 on the Raptors only behind Bosh
Off Rating – 124
Def Rating – 110
Net Rating – Plus 14 #1 on the Raptors (league average is zero)
WS/48 – .150 #2 on the Raptors only behind Bosh (league average is .100)
Bosh’s numbers
——————–
PER – 25.0
Off Rating – 117
Def Rating – 111
Net Rating – Plus 6 (league average is zero)
WS/48 – .182 (league average is .100)
So in PER, Net offensive – defensive rating and WS/48 Johnson ranks #1 among all returning and new Raptors. (Anyone who cares to can verify this statement and if I am incorrect I would appreciate it if they would point it out. Thanks)
Johnson seems to benefit on offense by playing alongside a good point guard who thinks assists before points. This was true in Detroit where his offense even though nowhere near as advanced as now, not that it hasn't got a way yet to go, benefited by playing alongside Billups as opposed to Iverson or Stuckey. The latter two who like Jack are more shoot first point guards than Calderon and Billups are.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/
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