NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks trying to sell teams on Jose Calderon's "leadership qualities"

Shoot your shot, Phil Jackson. Shoot. Your. Shot.

Per Marc Stein:

The Knicks, who also strongly covet Teague in their search for a frontline point guard, are trying their best to get a team interested in Jose Calderon and the $7.7 million owed to the Spaniard next season. Sources say New York is talking up Calderon's leadership qualities and, in some cases, offering to include big man Kyle O'Quinn to sweeten proposals.

You can't put a price on these kinds of intangible leadership qualities! But I'm willing to part with him for only a second-round pick, because you have a kind face.

Seriously, though, Phil might want to subcontract Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan as Calderon's hype man:

Knicks fans may not be too fond of Jose Calderon these days but DeMar DeRozan still has love for his former teammate pic.twitter.com/GEl25T0isZ

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 10, 2015

DeMar Derozan sobre Jose Calderon. (Vía @stackmack) pic.twitter.com/ppnMU1l6kK

— Jose Sáenz de Tejada (@jsaenzdetejada) January 29, 2016

As for "the sweetener," I'm not sure how much value Kyle O'Quinn has these days. He has played his way out of the rotation, but he's still only 25 years old and signed for three more years at a fairly reasonable $4 million per. All these factors add up to ... who the hell knows?

Remember, folks, it only takes one rival GM with a super-high opinion of Calderon's leadership and/or O'Quinn's promise to make a deal happen. We learned as much with the Tim Hardaway Jr. / Jerian Grant trade.

Keep on swinging for the fences, Phil!