I don't agree that the Mavs will integrate Rondo instantly and be clicking but then suddenly crash down to earth. I am not sure where that thought comes from? He doesn't even know the offense or players tend yet. I think it will take a few months before they find the right balance of everything. By that point they will have signed another big to replace Wright and the team will be better adjusted.
It is interesting how many pages this thread went tonight and everyones responses. Rondo is literally in a no win situation with some of you. If he plays well, it is 'why wasn't he playing like this when he was here?' If he plays poorly, 'see he will never be as good as 2010-2012 the last time he ever played def and was worth a crap'. Funny how that works.
I've always been a Rondo supporter, and I really wanted us to keep him and sign him to a reasonable contract. But it was very clear tonight that he was much more engaged, aggressive, and motivated to play tonight than he was in Boston. And with all of the Perkins fall out and everything, it seems reasonable to suggest that the rebuild was adversely affecting Rondo's play and effort.
Now this could be an anomaly due to it being Rondo's first night there, but I bet he ends up playing good ball there much like he was in Boston with the Big 3. He's just not a #1/leading type of player, and he wasn't right for our curren situation, which is fine. The trade probably ends up helping everybody out, though I really wish we could've got more for him.
It's funny, because everyone always said Rondo is more valuable to the C's than anyone else. But I think it's clear tonight that in our situation, Rondo is much more valuable in Dallas' situation than ours.