New York Knicks: How Long A Leash Does Jose Calderon Have?

The New York Knicks essentially let it be known what their starting lineup for the regular season would be earlier this week. Derek Fisher announced that Kristaps Porzingis would be starting in the front court between Carmelo Anthony and Robin Lopez. Arron Afflalo and Jose Calderon are expected to man the backcourt. That leaves popular rookie Jerian Grant without a spot in the starting five, which will raise the question; how long until he is inserted there?

Fisher has stated previously that he is not afraid to start two rookies if it meant what was best for the team. Right now, Fisher has deemed that is not what is best for the team, instead going with the veteran Calderon in the starting unit. With his injury concerns, there is a high probability that Grant will eventually find his way into the starting lineup. But, let’s say that Calderon stays healthy; what will it take for Grant to overtake him?

For now, Calderon is the better fit in the starting unit. Anthony will be the focal point of the offense whenever he is on the court, and placing shooters around him is the best formula for success. At his current stage in development, Grant is an inconsistent shooter from the perimeter, making the veteran a better fit. Grant brings athleticism and the ability to get into the paint and create, something Calderon lacks, but if you do not have enough shooters around Anthony opposing defenses can zone in on him without the worry of getting beat other places.

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Also, Calderon just doesn’t fit the profile of a bench player. When you bring your second unit into the game, you are expecting energy and a pop to get the team going. Calderon, at this point in his career, is best as a game manager type to lead on the court. His game best fits as a role player next to more offensive minded players, which is what will occur with him in the starting lineup. If he came off the bench, he would be expected to carry the offense more, something that has never really been his strong suit.

With Calderon and Grant seemingly being in the right roles, what would it take for Grant to get into the starting lineup? Of course, injury would give him the change. Calderon, along with Afflalo, have some injury concerns. Afflalo battled a hamstring injury throughout training camp, but Fisher opted to start Sasha Vujacic because he wanted Grant to get acclimated to his role in the second unit.

Assuming everyone is healthy, it really comes down to the success of the team. Calderon’s hold on the starting point guard spot is as strong as the Knicks record, whatever it may be. If the Knicks are having success from the get go, Calderon will have the spot for as long as they are succeeding as Fisher will want to keep the good times rolling.

But what if the Knicks are struggling? Then, the pushing of Grant to enter the lineup would become more boisterous. The Knicks will more than likely not be competing for a championship this season, so why not get your younger players valuable playing experience? If the season goes off the rails as it did last season, expect the Knicks to go with a full on youth movement, featuring their younger players such as Grant and Porzingis, along with Langston Galloway and Cleanthony Early.

That is what makes this such a precarious position for Fisher. He is obviously trying to win games, but at the same time he needs to have an eye on the future as well. It will be a tightrope he has to walk all season, and one that will be difficult to tip-toe across. But he knew coming into this job that it would not be an easy one, otherwise more people would have been lining up for it.

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A rebuilding process is as difficult to pull off in New York as it is anywhere. The Knicks are trying to do that while staying competitive on the court. The standing of Calderon will be an indication of where the Knicks think their standing is. Calderon is entrenched as the starting point guard right now, but it is far from a lock that he has that role throughout the entirety of the 2015-16 season.

Calderon is healthy heading into this season unlike the 2014-15 one, so he will have a chance to show that he deserves the starting spot. But, if he shows more signs of being over the hill and ineffective, Fisher will not hesitate to pull the plug on him and insert someone such as Grant to jump start the unit. That is the one big difference this season from last from the Knicks. Unlike last year, this season there are players on the bench capable of taking your spot if you are not performing.

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Calderon is not the sole player to be under these circumstances, but given the excitement around Grant it could only be a matter of time until Fisher makes a move. It is something to keep an eye on throughout the season as Fisher’s decision regarding his standing in the rotation could show the Knicks hand in their season plans.