José Manuel Calderón (40 years old) has become the new adviser of the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to the franchise itself. “We’re thrilled to bring in someone with his background and experience,” said Cavs president of football operations Koby Altman. “His achievements as a player and his familiarity with our organization will be invaluable. We look forward to his ideas and perspective on how we can continue to move forward and improve.”
The former Spanish international (eight medals with the National Team) leaves his position as assistant to Michele Roberts, executive director of the Players Union, a job she has been doing since announcing her retirement from professional basketball in November 2019.
Calderón was one of the most respected players in the NBA during his 14 years in the League. He landed in 2005 at the Toronto Raptors, where he was until 2013 when he was traded mid-season to Detroit. From Michigan he went to Dallas and New York with the Knicks. Next would come the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks and some Cavaliers with whom he played 57 games and his only Finals in 2018 against Golden State Warriors (4-0 loss). He closed his career with the Pistons.
exciting project
The Extremaduran arrives at a franchise that has completely turned the sock around after sailing in the dark after LeBron James’ second start in 2018. And, furthermore, when nobody expected it: March in sixth place in the Eastern Conference when in summer no one bet on them with 24 wins in 42 matches, more than in the last three seasons: 22 last season and 19 in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
The Cavs’ growth has been built on two talented young players: Evan Mobley (20 years old) and Darius Garland (21). And a countercultural style of play, the Tall Ball, in recent years in the NBA, with three giants on track like Mobley himself, Lauri Markkanen and Jarrett Allen. An evolutionary process that has rejuvenated Kevin Love and that had had one of Ricky Rubio’s best campaigns.
The Spanish base, mentor of an inexperienced locker room, he averaged 13.1 points (the same as in the 2017-18 academic year, the maximum of his career) and 6.6 assists until his serious injury versus in New Orleans against the Pelicans on December 29. The diagnosis, ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee, which will keep him off the track for between 10 and 12 months.
