Jose Calderon: Toronto Raptors' Team MVP for 2012 Season

The 66-game 2012 NBA season is winding down, and the writing is on the wall for the Toronto Raptors.

Another year, another early exit.

While wins and losses are the ultimate indication of a team's success, the 2012 campaign has not been as bad as Toronto's 17-35 record suggests. 

Andrea Bargnani has shown a new sort of commitment to playing defensive basketball.

And coach Dwane Casey looks to be the right man for the job. The team competes hard night in, night out, even against the NBA's best teams.

And the gap has nearly been bridged between the selection and arrival of European prospect, Jonas Valanciunas.

This list is enough for fans looking to remain optimistic to hang their hat on. No longer is the "maybe next year" prophecy just a wild fantasy.

But above all else, if Raptors fans need one positive to take away from the 2012 season, it should be the play of point guard Jose Calderon.

While the season has had some bright spots here and there, the Spanish back-court star has provided the team with much needed consistency. 

Calderon has emerged as the Raptor's offensive leader this season.

Sure, Andrea Bargnani and Demar DeRozan score more, but it is Calderon that fuels the offense. Averaging 8.8 assists per game makes him the league's fourth best helper. 

Additionally, his 10.4 points per game, 36.5 three-point shooting percentage and 87.3 free-throw percentage indicate that Calderon has been able to create for himself, as well as for his teammates.

The March 15th trade deadline was accompanied by a bevy of trade rumors involving 30-year-old, but the team showed its faith by keeping Calderon, who would likely have fetched a decent return.

And though this does not mean he will be a Raptor for life (he is a Free-Agent after next season), it does suggest that he will lace up for Toronto once again in 2013.

The point guard is the main reason the Raptors have kept their heads above water this season and are on the verge of contending sooner rather than later.

Jose Calderon has been the team's biggest asset this season, and there is no other Raptor that can match his value at this point.