Athletes having problems with visas are a common occurrence in February. Usually, though, they are baseball players trying to get into the country for spring training.
Not so for Jose Calderon, the newest member of the Pistons. Calderon, acquired in Wednesday's trade of Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye, won't make his debut tonight against Cleveland because of work-permit issues.
Calderon, a Spanish citizen, had been playing for Toronto under a Canadian work visa. However, the trade to Detroit means that he suddenly needs permission to work in the United States. That won't be available in time for tonight's game, and with services slow on the weekend, he'll be a question mark for Sunday afternoon's game against the Lakers.
Coach Lawrence Frank said that once Calderon is cleared for action, he will start at point guard, with Brandon Knight moving to shooting guard. The Pistons are shorthanded at small forward -- the position played by both Daye and Prince -- so will use shooting guards Kyle Singler and Rodney Stuckey to fill in. Jonas Jerebko, who had fallen out of Frank's rotation, will also get playing time at small forward.
