Jose Calderon is in uniform and ready to play for the Hawks, but Mike Budenholzer is not ready to label him the team’s primary backup point guard. According to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Budenholzer would like to see Calderon compete with Malcolm Delaney for minutes.
“It’s hard to say. I think Malcolm has been great all year,” Budenholzer said. “I think Malcolm has been great all year. We are really pleased with how he’s played. Malcolm brings a lot to the table. But I think it’s great to have Jose as another … to get through the majority of the season without a third point guard is unusual.”
Calderon served as a low-stakes addition to Atlanta’s backcourt; the 35-year-old will only cost the team $247,991. The Hawks picked up Calderon in time for him to be playoff eligible, but the veteran will presumably need to make more of an impact than he did on the Lakers. As Vivlamore points out, Delaney has appeared in all 62 games for the Hawks this season, serving as Dennis Schroder‘s primary back-up.
“I think Jose is someone who can come in and fight for those minutes,” Budenholzer added. “I can see giving him an opportunity and chances to see how he can help us but Malcolm has been very, very good.”