Rajon Rondo vs. Devin Harris

[acieEarl]

I just remember the two matchups against Jersey. One of them Harris had some points but wasn't that impressive. The other match up, Rondo embarressed him and the coach benched Harris as he didn't do much.

Harris is def a better shooter but I'd take every other aspect of Rondos game over Harris. People make too big of a deal about Rondo not shooting. I'll take a pass first point guard anyday over shooting one. No one really played well in that Orlando series.

[ToppersBsktball10]

He doesn't play D though.

[BballTim]

To play devil's advocate here, big difference the other direction in scoring.

Harris' deal is pretty close to what I'd go for Rondo. Not a lot more, given the holes in his game.

  Sure, the big difference in the other direction is scoring. But if Harris were up for an extension this year, what do you think he'd get? I'd expect it would be $12M+.

[ToppersBsktball10]

Harris has also admitted that he wants money more than a ring.

[johnnyrondo]

You also have to remember that we're talking about the point guard position. The fact that Harris shoots better is not that big a deal. With a team of Ray/Pierce/KG, I'm not sure a gunning point guard would fit. A pass first point guard like Rondo is optimal (and hard to find). Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson, both couldn't really shoot in their early years, but they were still better than the Devin Harrises of their day. This is the point guard position. A quick, triple double leader like Rondo is ideal.

[guava_wrench]

He doesn't play D though.

Where did this come from? Hasn't Harris always had the reputation of being a very good defender?

[Who]

He doesn't play D though.

Where did this come from? Hasn't Harris always had the reputation of being a very good defender?

Not since moving to Jersey ... Harris' defense has dropped off considerably since then.

His concentration is firmly on scoring the basketball.

[Eja117]

I'd say Rondo is better because he's quicker (I think) still improving significantly, really stepped up in the playoffs at a young age made an all-defensive team, and I think he's a couple years younger

That's just me

[2short]

Devin Harris is a short two guard masquerading as a point guard. He's a scorer who can't run an offense.

 That's why he doesn't get mentioned amongst the elite point guards in the league.

Rondo can dominate a game (see playoffs) like lebron, kobe etc I mean when the kid plays at his best he's unreal.  Hoping its cuz he's young that consistancy isn't quite there yet.  Rondo's ceiling is higher than nearly all the pgs in league now.  Paul is scary, deron very very good.  I don't put Harris or Mo Williams in the upper class.  Someone mentioned Jameer Nelson and I think he is up there as is Paker.

[Roy Hobbs]

Times scoring below 10 points: Rondo - 36, Harris - 4

Times scoring 20+ points: Rondo - 13, Harris - 36

Times having 10+ assists: Rondo - 28, Harris - 16

I really wonder how much Rondo's passing skills really do make up for Harris' passing advantage.  Harris is a pretty good passer in his own right, despite people attempting to label him an off guard.  If the roles were reversed, and Harris was a Celtics starter, I think he'd be racking up as many assists as Rondo (he averages less than 1.5 assists fewer already), while still scoring more (and at a higher efficiency than he does now.)

[CelticsWhat35]

Times scoring below 10 points: Rondo - 36, Harris - 4

Times scoring 20+ points: Rondo - 13, Harris - 36

Times having 10+ assists: Rondo - 28, Harris - 16

I really wonder how much Rondo's passing skills really do make up for Harris' passing advantage.  Harris is a pretty good passer in his own right, despite people attempting to label him an off guard.  If the roles were reversed, and Harris was a Celtics starter, I think he'd be racking up as many assists as Rondo (he averages less than 1.5 assists fewer already), while still scoring more (and at a higher efficiency than he does now.)

Just as there's no comparison to each other's shooting ability, there is no comparison to each other's passing ability.  Rondo is a far superior passer to Harris.  He has such an incredible knack for knowing where the guys on his team want the ball and how to get it to them.  Harris is a very good player, and a far superior shooter to Rondo, but he's not in his ball park when it comes to passing.

[BballTim]

Times scoring below 10 points: Rondo - 36, Harris - 4

Times scoring 20+ points: Rondo - 13, Harris - 36

Times having 10+ assists: Rondo - 28, Harris - 16

I really wonder how much Rondo's passing skills really do make up for Harris' passing advantage.  Harris is a pretty good passer in his own right, despite people attempting to label him an off guard.  If the roles were reversed, and Harris was a Celtics starter, I think he'd be racking up as many assists as Rondo (he averages less than 1.5 assists fewer already), while still scoring more (and at a higher efficiency than he does now.)

  Again, though, add in the numbers for Harris (for clarity we'll call him Devin) the year before he signed that deal:

Scoring below 10 points: Rondo - 36, Harris - 4, Devin - 35

Times scoring 20+ points: Rondo - 13, Harris - 36, Devin - 3

Times having 10+ assists: Rondo - 28, Harris - 16, Devin - 0

Forgot 5+ rebounds: Rondo - 48, Harris - 18, Devin - 9

  It's also very unlikely that he'd be racking up as many assists as Rondo is now. In fact, it's unlikely he'd be racking up as many assists as HE is now. We have better passing players than the Nets. KG and Paul and Ray don't just shoot the ball when they get it, they make the extra pass. Rondo's starting teammates average 10.2 assists a game, Devin's average 7.7. That's significant when your team gets in the low 20s for total assists. Obviously his scoring would also decrease. Harris takes 15 shots a game and Rondo takes 9.5. Split the difference at 12 and factor in the assists and Harris, right now, on the Celts would be something like 18 and 5 and 3 boards. Is that much better overall than what Rondo's giving us? And, again, that's from a player who, if he was a free agent today, would be worth well beyond the $8M he's getting.

[Michael Anthony]

Rondo's next contract will be as much about his play as it is about Celtic's leverage.

As a restricted free agent during the 2010 bonanza, I really cannot see him comanding a ton of attention. Will anyone even offer him something beyond the MLE?

Solid Pointguards (2010):
ATL, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, GSW, IND, LAC, MEM, MIL, NJ, NO, OKC, ORL, SAN, PHO, TOR, UTA, WAS

No Pointguard, No Cap (2010):
DAL, HOU, LAL, MIN, PHI, SAC

No Pointguard, Potential Cap (2010):
MIA, NYC, POR

With Mario Chalmers performing well, Miami has bigger priorities including signing Wade and a center. New York is going to make a run, and will likely land a marquee free agent. Plus, D'Antoni's system requires pointguards that can shoot. Portland is a potential suitor, but could very well burn its cap space this off season on a 1 or 3, and will use whatever is left resigning Roy and Aldridge.

For that reason, I do not see Ainge extending for much more than $1 million or so above the MLE - and I do not see Rondo accepting more than 4 year. Something like 4 years, $28 million seems reasonable for both sides.

[crownsy]

no way is rondo going to accept 6 million a year when He's widely considered, even by his detractors, as one of the top 10 PG's in the league. thats almost 10 million under a max contract for the prime of his career.

I'd be amazed if we get away with 8 for him (fantastic deal for the celtics), not shocked if we overpay at 9 to 10 (probably fair), and upset if they sign him for 11 or 12+

[wiley]

Rondo's next contract will be as much about his play as it is about Celtic's leverage.

As a restricted free agent during the 2010 bonanza, I really cannot see him comanding a ton of attention. Will anyone even offer him something beyond the MLE?

Solid Pointguards (2010):
ATL, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, GSW, IND, LAC, MEM, MIL, NJ, NO, OKC, ORL, SAN, PHO, TOR, UTA, WAS

No Pointguard, No Cap (2010):
DAL, HOU, LAL, MIN, PHI, SAC

No Pointguard, Potential Cap (2010):
MIA, NYC, POR

With Mario Chalmers performing well, Miami has bigger priorities including signing Wade and a center. New York is going to make a run, and will likely land a marquee free agent. Plus, D'Antoni's system requires pointguards that can shoot. Portland is a potential suitor, but could very well burn its cap space this off season on a 1 or 3, and will use whatever is left resigning Roy and Aldridge.

For that reason, I do not see Ainge extending for much more than $1 million or so above the MLE - and I do not see Rondo accepting more than 4 year. Something like 4 years, $28 million seems reasonable for both sides.

Don't see it playing out this way.  Seems like more dream than reality.  Teams love and want this guy.