The New York Knicks' starting backcourt combo of Jose Calderon (L) and Arron Afflalo. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Jose Calderon trade rumors are officially over now that the New York Knicks have veteran shooting guard Arron Afflalo back and the other teams of the league are starting to figure out how to play and defend rookie hotshot Jerian Grant.
Afflalo, who was signed by the Knicks this summer, had been battling hamstring problems since preseason and missed New York's first eight regular season games.
The 30-year-old made his Knicks debut on November 11 in a 95-93 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 12 points and hauling down six boards in 28 minutes of action replacing Sasha Vujacic as the starting shooting guard.
New York is currently on a two-game winning streak and is 2-2 since his insertion in the starting lineup and it is noticeable how he is making the Knicks' offense so much better, as per Fox Sports.
Meanwhile, Grant, this year's 19th overall pick, is beginning to attract the attention of opposing team's defenses, exposing his expected immaturity and making him struggle a bit.
Head coach Derek Fisher understands completely and so he was feeling vindicated about not listening to public and media clamor about trading Calderon or promoting Grant as his starting point guard.
"It's just called 'Welcome to the NBA,'" Fisher said, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. "Sustaining success in this league requires you to embrace your weaknesses and the things you don't do so well. So for Jerian, he's going to have to embrace the opportunity teams are presenting him."
Sports World Report noted that Grant and his substitute backcourt partner Langston Galloway may be a "powerful tandem off the bench", but the duo is still not good enough to replace the effectiveness, savvy, and basketball IQ of their more experienced starters.
