Making moves now, like locking up talented, proven, young rotation players that can share the load with a star NOW, and then having this season to show what they can do together, might help bring a top level player more than having only cash to throw at them next year.
Locking up below average SGs to long term money is a formula I'm not going to be able to get behind.
I think he's a better player than he's shown. Coaching changes, crazy roster flux for several seasons (remember the AI fiasco?), and Mike Conley as your playmaker? Just not a good fit, and never was.
He seems like a guy, and the Griz are in a situation, where he could be brought in without sending out much...and then flourish here in Boston. There is opportunity here, I think.
Of course, like most things batted around here, it'll probably never happen...
How much do you think they'd accept for him?
Why do you think he has the potential to be better? Before last year the Grizzlies gave him a ton of touches, minutes, and shot attempts. Only this year when he failed to produce they cut the cord starting a SG who they thought could give them more than just average scoring.
Well, the playmaking upgrade from Conley to Rondo is a near-guarantee to improve the efficiency of his production, as the coaching/system upgrade by coming under Doc's wing/system.
In terms of role, I think he struggled to find his place. He surely ain't no Kobe Bryant, even if he can be classified as a "scorer," and that Memphis team seemed to be lacking in any sense of identity (until last year). Here, and this year (while the players and system exist) more than next (when the cupboard looks relatively bare), he can focus on fitting in next to players he has no choice but to respect.
I'm not sure there he's ever really played next to any more-veteran player(s) that could command his immediate respect (he was drafted right after the Gasol for Kwame fiasco, right?). So I think he'll be more willing to take direction and accept a role that benefits the team here. His role did change a bit from time to time in MEM (PG, SG, scorer, facilitator...), and all of this flux happened during those critical first four years when a player generally learns what their schtick in the league is.
Make no mistake, the guy's not all-star, and won't be, but can be a valuable rotation player/starter and can do something we need done. He has the tools, and the C's have what Memphis lacked for most of his career to put him in a position to succeed within a system.
I mean, if he can produce 18pts, with 38% from 3 and a steal on horrible Griz teams and he is likely to do better here, then that's a pretty good indication to me he can be very successful.
As far as his value, he would have gone for a high first rounder and a minimum contract hustle big last year, but his stock rose in the playoffs, so I'd say BBD and a late first could probably do it. It just seems like the proverbial trade that helps both teams, too, since both he and BBD are likely to end up on different teams very soon.
What do you think of Rondo/Mayo/Green?
Both Mayo and Green have 3pt range, young and athletic (meaning that, unlike the current roster, they can run and finish at the hoop), and are likely able to get locked in for somewhere in that $5-9 million range that will ensure the ability to still bring in a bigger star.
