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Jose Calderon is the next Steve Nash. Just watch below:

Actually, if you watched the mix above, it’s kind of boring. The mix is just Calderon shooting 3’s. But look at the stats:

8.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.04 steals, 11.3 points in 30.3 minutes a night. 52.3% shooting, 42.9% on 3’s, 90.8% on free throws.

Oh yeah, and 5.32 assist to turnover ratio.

Steve Nash: 11.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, .66 steals, 17.1 points in 34.6 minutes. 50.4% shooting, 47% on 3’s, 90.6% on free throws. 3.04 assist to turnover ratio. I don’t know how well Calderon defends, but Nash is not supposed to be very good, and it doesn’t seem insane to think Calderon could become Nash. (Calderon is 26 right now, Nash was averaging 9 points and 5 assisters per game when he was 26.)

The Raptors have 2 really good point guards, Calderon and TJ Ford, but the way Ford’s been going (injury-prone), they’d probably rather trade Ford.

So why am I talking about Jose Calderon?

The Warriors this summer run a great risk of going back to 1995-1997 era. One name says it all: Vonteego Cummings. I thought he was going to be somebody.

I was wrong.

For 13 years, I thought the Warriors could be somebodies.

I was wrong.

Here’s the risk:

• Baron Davis
• Andris Biendrins
• Monta Ellis
• Mickael Pietrus
• Matt Barnes
• Kelenna Azuibuike

And coach Don Nelson.

All the above are the Warriors’ big potential free agents. The wrong moves in the next 4 months launch us into the Vonteego Cummings/Sam Jacobsen/Todd Fuller years again. It is seriously that easy from becoming a 48 win team to a 25 win team. Remember, this is the the same franchise that went from Chris Webber behind-his-back slam on Sir Charles to “the first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft is Joe Smith” in 1 year.

First, Don Nelson:

Don Nelson is just as likely to leave as he is stay. Actually, he is just as likely to trade Baron Davis to get back Speedy Claxton and 2 #1’s (if he convince Mullin) as he is of staying another 2 years.

Second, Baron Davis:

I hear a lot about how Baron is injury prone and becoming 30 next year. Actually, all that doesn’t bother me. Nash is 34, Kidd is 35, people are lasting longer nowadays. What bothers me is what happens when Don Nelson takes off and Baron’s in the middle of his max deal. Will Baron return to his lazy ways, or will he remain a leader, able to take the Warriors to 48/49 wins a year. That’s the risk.

Third, Andris Biedrins and Monta Ellis:

It’s easy to be down on Andris. He didn’t have a bad year by any means, but I don’t think he improved so much. As for Monta, it’s probably easy to be in love with him right now. He shot 53% from the field this year, averaging 20+! Yet, isn’t it odd that during his first year with Mike Montgomery coaching (go Bears!), he’d get put in for defense, and now that’s his weak spot. Reminds me of Pietrus a little bit; starting off as a big time defender, and then losing a bit of that. Monta’s definitely quick enough to lock down on people, he’s just gotta elevate his game. As for Andris, 10 pts and 10 rebounds on 63% shooting and only 27 minutes per game from a just-turned 22 year old? Amazing.

The others: Pietrus, Barnes, Azuibuike:

These three guys are pretty similar: athletic swingmen who can shoot the 3 and defend when motivated. Barnes didn’t play too well this year, but I’d still love for him to be a Warrior. Pietrus can be a real good bench player worth 25 minutes per game if he has his head on straight. Kaz has a real spot in the NBA, and I think he will get better.

So what should the Warriors do?

I’m not someone who’s saying if they don’t resign everyone, they suck. I don’t think they should get everyone back even if they could. At the same time, I’ve learned that you can’t win big (not even Championship level here, just saying getting to the 2nd round of the playoffs) without a superstar.

That must mean I want to keep Baron right?

Wrong. I love Baron. Not as much as J-Rich, but Baron’s my favorite Warrior now- but I’m sure everyone says that now.

At the same time, look at the risk of Don Nelson and Baron Davis. Plus, I wonder why Nelson benched Baron for the second half of the game in which the Warriors got eliminated from the playoffs. They’ve had good relations, but trusting either of them reminds me of Nelson and Chris Webber, and like I said, this whole things scares me like 1995.

So I gotta say, Nelson is going to let us down. When? Don’t know. But he will. And Baron’s too much of a risk in that scenario, especially for the kind of money he’s going to demand.

Let Baron go.

Keep Andris and Monta. In this scenario, I realize Warriors lack that superstar again. But I think Monta will be it. Sure, he’s got to improve his ball handling and D, but I think he can put up 25 points a game, he can be the next almost-Gilbert Arenas. Monta’s also 6 years younger. Andris, if he just improves a little, gets a little stronger (10+ pounds), adds a little bit more in his post game, defends his man a little bit better, you’re talking about a guy in 2-3 years could average 15 pts, 12 boards, 1.5 blocks on 55%+ shooting every year, a guy who’s a presence on both ends of the court. Those aren’t superstar numbers, but that’s an excellent center.

You also have to remember that the Hornets trading Baron for Speedy Claxton ended up being a steal, for the Hornets. They got Chris Paul. There is life after BD.

As for the other three swing guys, keep at least 1, try to keep at least 2 for no more than $3-4 Million a year.

So lock Monta and Andris both up, both will get $10-12 Million/a year, hopefully no more. Keep hoping Andris improves, Brandan Wright gains 20 pounds of muscle, Captain Jack keeps it together, and while the Warriors won’t reach 48 wins again, they will be fun and primed for the future. They’ll need a good backup pass-first point, which they can find….somewhere. Brevin Knight?

Unless.

Again, Jose Calderon?

This is where Jose Calderon comes in. The next Steve Nash. Imagine him in the Warriors offense. As crazy as this will sound to Warriors fans, maybe with improved Wright, Ellis, and Biedrins, Calderon really does become Steve Nash. The Warriors don’t have trouble scoring you know, as long as they have a creator. I think they can pick up the slack in points with Calderon and be more efficient at it. With Calderon and Ellis in the backcourt, Baron was a lot stronger but height wise, there’s no change.

Or if not Calderon, what about a guy like Kirk Hinrich of the Bulls? The Bulls are going to unload somebody this year, guaranteed. They have a bunch of good players, but no superstars to elevate them. This year they found out, not good enough.

Hinrich, as far as I know, is just a good player. He had a bad year, but he’s a good athlete who can shoot, defend, pass, and he’s tough. Think he could benefit from being a Warrior under Don Nelson?

Calderon’s the perfect fit though.

But what would it take to get either of these guys? The Warriors do have a lottery pick now, around the 15th pick in a very good draft. A lot of interesting big men this year. Maybe the Raptors would like one to team with Chris Bosh, or like the pick + Marco Bellineli, the young Rambo look-alike who will probably end up being a decent player. Add in a Pietrus or another swingman if the money doesn’t work. I don’t think anyone will take TMNT Harrington- he’s got close to $20 Million for two years left. Or if you want to go really crazy, sign and trade Baron for Calderon and junk, but I don’t think that’s realistic.

I guess the Raptors might be happy to deal TJ Ford instead, but I think of him as a slightly better Speedy, and I liked Speedy. But he’s not an all-star PG, while I think Calderon on the Warriors could be.

I was 13 when the Warriors turned bad. I’m now 27. If they self-destruct again, I will 40 when they get out of it, and Don Nelson may not be alive to rescue them once more.

Jose Calderon! Come on Warriors!

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