Based on the timing of the Warriors’ press releases, Jose Calderon was on Golden State for one hour and 59 minutes Wednesday.
After planning to sign the point guard, the Warriors changed course when Kevin Durant got hurt. They wanted forward Matt Barnes instead.
But Calderon, using data from Basketball Insiders and Yahoo Sports, relinquished $392,477 in salary to leave the Lakers via buyout. A rest-of-season minimum contract with Golden State would’ve paid Calderon almost precisely the same amount, $392,478. (With rounding, the buyout and rest-of-season deal might have exactly matched.)
So, the Warriors kept their promise by signing Calderon and then waiving him before signing Barnes. (They’ll have to pay Calderon just $247,991 if he clears waivers. Because he has more than two years experience and is on a one-year minimum contract, the NBA will reimburse the rest. If Calderon gets claimed, Golden State is off the hook entirely.)
The Warriors even made a jersey for their game against the Bulls last night, which again, was played a day after Calderon was waived.
Michael Singer of USA Today:
Warriors sign Matt Barnes, waive Jose Calderon. But there was still this jersey outside of the visiting locker room in Chicago: pic.twitter.com/EKUFUlMUZM
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 2, 2017
Calderon might have wanted to play for championship-favorite Golden State, but he can come out ahead financially if he clears waivers. Signing with another team -- likely the Hawks -- would allow him to double-dip (triple-dip if you count the Lakers) on salary this season.
And maybe the Warriors let him keep his jersey. Especially if they win the title this year, it could be a collectors’ item.
