Best Potential Trade Packages, Scenarios and Landing Spots for Jose Calderon

Don't think that Phil Jackson is done wheeling and dealing for his New York Knicks. 

Parting ways with Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, then subsequently waiving Samuel Dalembert, was only the beginning of a plan that involves opening up as much cap space as possible for the upcoming offseason. Now, Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon are the only remaining players with contracts that extend past the end of the 2014-15 campaign. 

And one of them might not be around for too much longer if Jackson has his druthers. 

According to CBS Sports' Ken Berger, "With the Knicks now owners of the worst record and perhaps worst roster in the league as Phil Jackson hits the reset button in New York, league sources say the next player on the move could be point guard Jose Calderon."

Bleacher Report's Howard Beck has confirmed the point guard's availability, also noting that everyone on the roster other than Anthony is available. 

Of course, Calderon isn't going to be easy to move, despite his uneasiness in New York.

"Nobody can be happy or feel comfortable in this situation," he told reporters in late December, via Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. "It is very frustrating."

Frustrated or not, he still has three years left on his contract, which is worth over $22 million in unpaid salary, and most contending teams are already set at point guard. Are they really going to pay a premium for a declining floor general with a lengthy deal? 

Jackson sure hopes so.

Fortunately for the Knicks' chances of trading him, the point is to clear the books for next year, not to acquire young talents. Accepting any contracts that run past 2014-15 really isn't realistic, so don't expect to see any of that in these potential deals. 

Houston Rockets

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Houston Rockets Get: Jose Calderon

New York Knicks Get: Jason Terry and a future second-round pick

Jason Terry has had a few solid performances for the Houston Rockets, but even with his three-happy ways, he's not the right fit for that team. Other than Isaiah Canaan, there's no natural point guard backing up Patrick Beverley, and that contributes to some of the Rockets' turnover-happy ways. 

And that's where Calderon enters the picture. 

Like Terry, he's a capable marksman who can play off the ball and allow James Harden to keep controlling it when they're sharing the court. But unlike the veteran 2-guard, he's a natural floor general who can also function as a solid distributor and avoid making many mistakes. 

Terry is averaging 2.0 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game through his first 32 games in Houston. Calderon, meanwhile, has put up 4.5 dimes and 1.5 cough-ups during his average outing with the Knicks. Because of that steadiness, he's an ideal fit to come off Houston's bench and fill a two-headed offensive role. 

New York probably won't be thrilled to be getting just Terry back from the Rockets, but he's working on an expiring deal. Remember, that's the key here, as the Knicks are certainly trying to shed salary without adding players who will be on the books past the end of this miserable season.

And with a sweetener coming in the form of a future second-round pick, it would be rather difficult for them to say no. 

Memphis Grizzlies

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Memphis Grizzlies Get: Jose Calderon

New York Knicks Get: Tayshaun Prince, future second-round pick

Exit one player who would help lure Marc Gasol to Madison Square Garden. Enter another. 

The Memphis Grizzlies big man who will be a free agent this summer might not share the same close, personal relationship with Tayshaun Prince that he does with Calderon. However, he's intimately familiar with his playing style after suiting up next to him ever since the small forward was traded to Memphis midway through 2012-13.

Prince, like Gasol, will hit the open market this summer, but the Knicks making an impression on him might increase their minuscule chances of luring Gasol to town. 

That's about the only benefit of acquiring him, since he's pretty washed up on the basketball court. Still, he's working on an expiring deal that's comparable to Calderon's current salary, and that allows him to serve as a reasonable return for the contract-shedding Knicks. 

Meanwhile, the motivation is much easier to see for the Grizz. They'd add another perimeter threat to the roster, increasing the number of long-range weapons that Dave Joerger has at his disposal. 

Though his overall game has declined, the 33-year-old floor general is still shooting 42.5 percent from downtown on 3.6 attempts per game. Only four players on the current Memphis roster are taking more than two triples per contest—Mike Conley (3.8), Vince Carter (3.8), Courtney Lee (2.8) and Quincy Pondexter (2.5)—and Conley and Lee are the only ones connecting at a more accurate clip than the New York 1-guard. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

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Oklahoma City Thunder Get: Jose Calderon, Jason Smith, two future second-round picks

New York Knicks Get: Reggie Jackson, Kendrick Perkins

As Berger points out, the Knicks aren't giving up in their attempt to land Reggie Jackson: 

"

The Knicks are expected to try to re-engage the Thunder in talks for point guard Reggie Jackson after being rebuffed in their efforts to land him in Monday night's three-team deal, sources say. Jackson would fit into the $2.6 million trade exception New York received in the trade with Cleveland and Oklahoma City, but the Thunder have been steadfast in rebuffing trade offers for the point guard.

"

Once the Oklahoma City Thunder see how Dion Waiters fits, perhaps the team will be more inclined to part with the incumbent backup guard. After all, Jackson has been a terrible spot-up shooter and needs the ball in his hands in order to be effective, and Waiters can essentially fill that same role.

Now that Russell Westbrook is back in the lineup, pairing Waiters with a more traditional backup point guard makes a lot more sense than continuing to try fitting the newcomer and the future restricted free agent together.

Plus, the Thunder get to shed Kendrick Perkins' salary in this deal, which helps in their inevitable pursuit to get back below the luxury-tax threshold they exceeded in the three-team deal with the Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks' incessant pursuit of Jackson is a bit confusing. He doesn't seem to be a great fit for the triangle offense, as he's a score-first point guard who does almost all of his work off the dribble. However, Phil Jackson clearly wants him, and if Waiters shines during his initial days in an OKC uniform, the Knicks may have the pieces necessary to land his services, taking advantage of his disgruntled nature with the Thunder. 

Portland Trail Blazers

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Portland Trail Blazers Get: Cole Aldrich, Jose Calderon

New York Knicks Get: Joel Freeland, Thomas Robinson

The Portland Trail Blazers desperately need more depth. 

According to HoopsStats.com, only four teams rely on their bench for fewer minutes per game. Even more worrisome is the fact that despite the limited amount of action, Rip City's backups have produced the No. 21 offensive efficiency off the pine. Part of the reason for that struggle is the lack of a qualified backup point guard. 

Steve Blake has filled the role up to this point in the season, but the veteran point guard is shooting only 36.5 percent from the field and has posted a player efficiency rating of just 8.9, per Basketball-Reference.com. Calderon would be a significant upgrade, allowing Terry Stotts to spell Damian Lillard with more frequency and add a floor-spacing weapon to the second unit. 

Plus, Cole Aldrich is a serviceable option in the frontcourt. Though the Kansas product hasn't played major minutes for the Knicks, he's a consistently effective presence in a small role, one who could help keep the starters fresh in a similarly minuscule role. 

Giving up Joel Freeland and Thomas Robinson doesn't hurt Portland as much because it's gaining access to Aldrich. And while neither would help out New York all that much—though it's worth noting that Robinson is young enough to possess some remaining potential—they're both on expiring deals. 

As we know by now, that's a big key for the Knicks. 

Sacramento Kings

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Sacramento Kings Get: Jose Calderon, future second-round pick

New York Knicks Get: Derrick Williams

Only the Minnesota Timberwolves have made fewer threes than the Sacramento Kings during the 2014-15 campaign. Likewise, the Wolves are the lone squad that has attempted fewer shots from beyond the arc. And to make matters worse, the Kings have connected on just 33.8 percent of their downtown tries, which puts them at No. 23 throughout the Association. 

This team needs more shooters, and acquiring Jose Calderon would be a cheap way to make that happen. 

In this situation, the Kings would also be the ones getting a second-round pick, not the team forced to give up a future selection. Derrick Williams, even though he's now flamed out in multiple locations, is an intriguing prospect all the same because he could still be a late-blooming forward. The Knicks having him on an expiring contract is beneficial both because he comes off the books this offseason and because there's a small chance he could break out on a new roster.

As is the case with all these other trades, the idea isn't to get great young players who the team can build around. At this stage in his career, Calderon isn't valuable enough for that line of thinking. 

Money is most important. Williams' enduring potential—however slim the chances of a breakout may be—is just icing on that dollar-sign-shaped cake.