Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer would not say whether Jose Calderon would supplant Malcolm Delaney as the primary back up to Dennis Schroder at point guard.
The Hawks acquired the veteran Calderon by claiming him off waivers Saturday. Calderon was bought out by the Lakers and signed with the Warriors, only to be released less than two hours later following the injury to Kevin Durant.
Calderon joined the Hawks for Sunday’s game but did not play as he was still getting a crash course in the team’s system. Malcolm Delaney has been the backup all season as the Hawks went without a third point guard.
“No, it’s hard to say,” Budenholzer said before Monday’s game against the Warriors when asked if Calderon would be the backup. “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.
“I think Jose is someone who can come in and fight for those minutes. I can see giving him an opportunity and chances to see how he can help us but Malcolm has been very, very good.”
Delaney has appeared in all 62 Hawks games this season. He has averaged 5.7 points, 2.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 17.4 minutes. He has played seven and 11 minutes, respectively, in the Hawks’ past two games.
Coincidentally, the Hawks play the Warriors in their second game after claiming Calderon.
“Maybe will give him his jersey that we had all marked up for him,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr joked Monday. “… I feel genuinely bad for Jose. Happy for him that Atlanta picked him up. He’ll get a chance to play in the playoffs, which I know is important for him. Play for a good coach on a good team. But I feel bad for the way things turned out for us. But I know he understands the way the NBA works in strange ways.”
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