Jose Calderon implied the Clippers and Timberwolves are interested in him.
Was the Knicks point guard revealing accurate information or just tired of hearing his name in trade rumors involving Jamal Crawford and Ricky Rubio?
The distinction probably doesn’t matter, right now at least.
Ian Begley of ESPN:
FWIW: On that Jose Calderon tweet, league sources said earlier this morning that no trade involving the #Knicks point guard was imminent.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) August 19, 2015
Calderon remains an important trade chip – not because of his ability on the court, because he’s the only player making more than a minimum salary the Knicks can trade right now without his permission. Calderon’s $7,402,812 salary is important for matching purposes.
But he’s also owed $7,708,427 in 2016-17. Nobody wants to pay him that much when he’s 35.
That – more than anything, including the Knicks’ desire to play him – is the biggest reason no Calderon trade is imminent.