Los Angeles Lakers interested in Jose Calderon; Hoping Steve Nash accepts Toronto Raptors offer – NBA News
The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping that the Toronto Raptors and Steve Nash are able to reach an agreement on a contract that would see Nash playing for the Raptors next season. And the reason behind that is their interest in Raptors point guard Jose Calderon.
The Raptors reportedly offered Steve Nash a three year - $36 million contract that could see Nash playing in his home country of Canada next season. There have been no comments from Nash so far regarding the contract, but the offer is a good one for the veteran point guard, who has always wanted to help promote the game of basketball in Canada.
With this offer, he will get the opportunity to do that, but he might have to sacrifice his quest for an NBA championship as the Raptors are not a championship calibre team by any stretch of imagination at the moment.
Nash is one of the hottest free agents in the market, with teams like the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat hoping to land his services. The one guard had earlier said that he was willing to take a salary cut if it led to him landing on a championship calibre team.
If Nash accepts the offer by the Raptors, they are more than likely to use their amnesty clause on Jose Calderon. The point guard is owed $10.6 million next season and the Raptors would have to let him go in order to make cap space necessary to sign Steve Nash. And the Los Angeles Lakers, who are on the hunt for a point guard and have already started talking to former Lakers guard Ramon Sessions, are interested in hiring the services of Calderon.
It will be a long process even if Calderon is let go by the Raptors, as according to NBA rules the teams under salary caps will be the first ones to have a go at the point guard. Calderon will have to clear waivers through the amnesty process if he wants to choose his next team.
However, if Calderon is able to go through the process, he is quite excited about playing alongside Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. His addition would also give the Lakers a much needed boost in the back court. Besides the Lakers, Calderon is also interested in teaming up with Luis Scola wherever he lands. Scola is a member of the Houston Rockets but rumours are afloat that the Rockets are trying to trade him away.
Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs are two more teams that are currently intriguing Calderon. However, it remains to be seen if both are looking for a point guard. San Antonio have Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to perform the guard duties. Parker specifically is coming off the best season of his career and has become the centre piece of the Spurs offense. Miami are also happy with their point guard Mario Chalmers after a good performance from him in the NBA Finals. Also, Miami may not have enough cap space to land the services of Calderon.
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