ROCHESTER FOREVER

By Eric Koreen July 13, 2010 – 12:24 pm

Read more: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010/07/13/calderon-likely-staying-put-as-jordan-nixes-raptors-bobcats-trade/#ixzz0taSGtHe2

It appears that the Toronto Raptors are not going to jettison their two most-burdensome contracts in one deft move.

While Hedo Turkoglu is still likely heading to Phoenix, a related deal that would have sent point guard Jose Calderon and forward Reggie Evans to Charlotte for forward Boris Diaw and centre Tyson Chandler appears dead due to hesitation from the Bobcats’ end.

One source with knowledge of the trade said the deal was likely dead, but did not give up hope that it could be revived later on Tuesday.

The deal was first thrown into doubt on Monday afternoon, when multiple sources told the National Post not to expect the deal to go through during the day, odd for such a widely reported trade. On Monday night, Yahoo! Sports reported that Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was having second thoughts about shipping out Chandler, whose US$12.75-million contract expires after this season.

The nixing of the deal comes after Evans thanked fans for his time and Toronto, and Chandler confirmed to Yahoo! that he had been dealt to the Raptors.

Calderon, the only player on the roster to predate Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo’s 2006 arrival to the team, has three years and US$29-million left on his contract. If that end of the deal had gone through, the Raptors would have saved an additional US$4-million in long-term commitments, as Diaw’s contract expires after 2012. However, if it is only the Turkoglu deal that takes place, the Raptors still figure to save more than US$25-million in commitments.

That deal will send Leandro Barbosa to the Raptors, and maybe another contract.

Prior to this deal, Colangelo insisted that he would not hesitate to bring both of his point guards, Jarrett Jack and Jose Calderon, back to Toronto for next season. However, Barbosa’s impending arrival likely changes that.

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