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Raptors stuck with Calderon

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08/26/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In trying to trade Jose Calderon earlier this offseason, the message sent by Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo was clear; Calderon was no longer in the future plans of the organization. A deal that would have sent Calderon and Reggie Evans to the Charlotte Bobcats for Boris Diaw and Tyson Chandler was as much about ridding the team of Calderon's tired legs as it was about beefing up a weak frontcourt.

Unluckily for the Raptors, majority owner of the Bobcats Michael Jordan vetoed the trade hours before the players were to be formally swapped. It was a smart move on Jordan's part, as he was well-aware Calderon is no longer the guard that could log 30 minutes a game and lead the Bobcats to success.

The deterioration of Calderon's health in recent seasons has noticeably slowed the 29-year-old and no longer reflects the value of the hefty five-year $45 million contract he signed in July 2008. Considering at the time he had just come off his best season as a pro, it seemed like a good deal, but since the 2007-08 season he's had trouble staying healthy, missing 28 games due to recurring hamstring and groin issues.

It's not as if Calderon has put these injuries behind him either. Just days ago, the six-foot-one Spaniard suffered a torn hamstring in preparation for the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, an injury that will sideline him for at least a month. Unfortunately for the Raptors, if they couldn't move him before this latest setback, they surely can't move him now.

So with that, it looks like the Raptors are stuck with Calderon, but is he finished? The answer to that question is "yes" if head coach Jay Triano forces him into a leading role for another season and "no" if Calderon can be utilized in moderation. Triano should look no further than Calderon's history for some insight into what may help him find success moving forward.

In his breakout 2007-08 season, Calderon shared the floor with T.J. Ford, averaging only 30.1 minutes a night. With an equally talented running mate like Ford to help cover for his defensive shortcomings, Calderon flourished. In a more limited role he was able to score with efficiency while distributing the ball with great accuracy, giving the Raptors' first unit a unique flavor. If the game shifted to a different pace, the Raptors had Ford to fill in as the quicker, better defender of the pair.

When Ford was traded to the Indiana Pacers before the 2008-09 season, Calderon had a chance to cement his status as the team's number one starter. Instead, he showed he couldn't handle the increased workload, breaking down with injuries and fading down the stretch. Calderon averaged 34.3 minutes that season and played only 68 games, never fully adjusting to the role he was expected to fulfill.

Knowing the point guard situation was a problem heading into the 2009-10 season, the Raptors brought in Jarrett Jack from the Pacers last year to help Calderon regain his old form - but instead, Jack usurped the starters role by season's end. Calderon regressed again, posting his lowest numbers in three years, while averaging only 26.7 minutes per game.

Calderon should see a reduction in minutes and responsibility heading into the 2010-11 season, while Jack reaps the rewards because of his strong play. Bringing the speed, length and durability that Calderon has never been able to show, Jack gives the Raptors their true number one guy heading into this season.

Calderon will be given a chance to lead the second unit right out of the gate and in his reduced role, could be of great value to the Raptors. His veteran presence could make him invaluable with the younger players on the team as he has always shown a knack for delivering the ball in the right places. If this season is about the quality of minutes and not the quantity of minutes he plays, the Raptors may find that being stuck with Calderon isn't such a bad thing.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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