Rondo’s agent responds

[JSD]

VIA Boston.com:

“I am just surprised that Danny is speaking, even if he considers it constructively, in a public setting [about Rondo],’’ agent Bill Duffy said in a phone interview. “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to say that about one of your top players. Even if it’s spoken constructively, I don’t think it should be done in public. I don’t think [Ainge] would like it if [Celtics managing partner] Wyc [Grousbeck] was talking about him in public.

“What they’re saying about him critically is actually an asset to him. He is feisty. He is competitive, yes. Last time I checked they won a world championship with him at point guard. If the team wasn’t hurting they might have done it again this year. Rondo’s tough love from Danny isn’t necessary. He’s self-motivated and a self-starter.’’

“It doesn’t sound like a glowing endorsement. You say you love him and then you are critical? You’re certainly not recruiting him.’’

Duffy said Ainge “gave me every assurance that he wasn’t moving [Rondo]’’ on Monday, and the agent hasn’t requested a trade either.

“No, it’s not to that point,’’ Duffy said. “But if they choose to trade him, then that’s their prerogative.’’

On Rondo’s fines for being late for playoff games, Duffy said: “That’s a private matter.’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/06/25/rondo8217s_agent_responds/

[Fafnir]

I was waiting for this article the minute Danny criticized Rondo in public on the Radio like he did.

I wonder what's in the works now...

[RAcker]

My guess is that these comments were more of a shot at the agent than at Rondo himself.  All of what Ainge said is apparently true and he's just letting the agent know that we have no intention of overpaying down the road.  Airing this out also lets the rest of the league know about Rondo's need to grow up. 

Ainge may very well be playing this just right for what he hopes to do in the last few years of Big 3 time.

[JSD]

My guess is that these comments were more of a shot at the agent than at Rondo himself.  All of what Ainge said is apparently true and he's just letting the agent know that we have no intention of overpaying down the road.  Airing this out also lets the rest of the league know about Rondo's need to grow up. 

Ainge may very well be playing this just right for what he hopes to do in the last few years of Big 3 time.

Yeah, Ainge is playing the game a bit. Maybe trying to lower Rondo's expectations and put the team in position to sign him to a fair and good value contract? That' my theory.

[ederson]

It makes sense. At least more than the shopping theory. I can`t understand why make public things that lower Rondo`s value (or make the other GMs think twice about Rondo) whwn you want to trade him

[Reggie's Ghost]

Yeah my take is that this was just posturing on Danny's part with a dual purpose: give Rondo a slice of humble pie, and a chip on his shoulder to improve his consistency next year.

Rondo's not going anywhere anytime soon, but look at the guys Ainge really covets: he like quality guys like Paul, Ray and KG who are able to take direction well.  Rondo is still growing as a player both on the court in in the attic, and I think Danny is doing his due diligence in trying to guide him toward his best potential.

As for the agent's response, please.  He's just doing his job, he knows Rondo is in a position to command money around the league, and it his job to deflect the efforts of Danny et al to set his market price.  These comments are right out of the agent comment handbook, How To Be An Agent 101.  Don't take any of it too seriously, he's feigning outrage but I assure you everyone knows it's nothing personal, just business.

[BudweiserCeltic]

What's funny about this is that Ainge was answering questions that mostly were engineered from an interview that Rondo did not long ago. This is like a trial, when a subject is touched upon it's fair game for everyone.

For example, Rondo talked about him wanting to be a MAX contract player. As a consequence Ainge was asked if Rondo was a MAX contract player and he answered.

Rondo talked about being late for games, etc. As a consequence Ainge was asked about this particular issue.

[Birdbrain]

Yeah my take is that this was just posturing on Danny's part with a dual purpose: give Rondo a slice of humble pie, and a chip on his shoulder to improve his consistency next year.

Rondo's not going anywhere anytime soon, but look at the guys Ainge really covets: he like quality guys like Paul, Ray and KG who are able to take direction well.  Rondo is still growing as a player both on the court in in the attic, and I think Danny is doing his due diligence in trying to guide him toward his best potential.

As for the agent's response, please.  He's just doing his job, he knows Rondo is in a position to command money around the league, and it his job to deflect the efforts of Danny et al to set his market price.  These comments are right out of the agent comment handbook, How To Be An Agent 101.  Don't take any of it too seriously, he's feigning outrage but I assure you everyone knows it's nothing personal, just business.

Very good post and spot on IMO. 

Interesting stat:

Reggie's Ghost 382TPs/372Posts

HOF material?

[Reggie's Ghost]

Yeah my take is that this was just posturing on Danny's part with a dual purpose: give Rondo a slice of humble pie, and a chip on his shoulder to improve his consistency next year.

Rondo's not going anywhere anytime soon, but look at the guys Ainge really covets: he like quality guys like Paul, Ray and KG who are able to take direction well.  Rondo is still growing as a player both on the court in in the attic, and I think Danny is doing his due diligence in trying to guide him toward his best potential.

As for the agent's response, please.  He's just doing his job, he knows Rondo is in a position to command money around the league, and it his job to deflect the efforts of Danny et al to set his market price.  These comments are right out of the agent comment handbook, How To Be An Agent 101.  Don't take any of it too seriously, he's feigning outrage but I assure you everyone knows it's nothing personal, just business.

Very good post and spot on IMO. 

Interesting stat:

Reggie's Ghost 382TPs/372Posts

HOF material?

Haha please, those stats are padded because I make sigs for people.

Plus I show up late to these threads after eating spicy food before posting, and I'm inconsistant 

[Fafnir]

Yeah my take is that this was just posturing on Danny's part with a dual purpose: give Rondo a slice of humble pie, and a chip on his shoulder to improve his consistency next year.

Rondo's not going anywhere anytime soon, but look at the guys Ainge really covets: he like quality guys like Paul, Ray and KG who are able to take direction well.  Rondo is still growing as a player both on the court in in the attic, and I think Danny is doing his due diligence in trying to guide him toward his best potential.

As for the agent's response, please.  He's just doing his job, he knows Rondo is in a position to command money around the league, and it his job to deflect the efforts of Danny et al to set his market price.  These comments are right out of the agent comment handbook, How To Be An Agent 101.  Don't take any of it too seriously, he's feigning outrage but I assure you everyone knows it's nothing personal, just business.

Very good post and spot on IMO. 

Interesting stat:

Reggie's Ghost 382TPs/372Posts

HOF material?

Mostly from his good works in this thread.

It is an impressive ratio.

[Fafnir]

Yeah my take is that this was just posturing on Danny's part with a dual purpose: give Rondo a slice of humble pie, and a chip on his shoulder to improve his consistency next year.

Rondo's not going anywhere anytime soon, but look at the guys Ainge really covets: he like quality guys like Paul, Ray and KG who are able to take direction well.  Rondo is still growing as a player both on the court in in the attic, and I think Danny is doing his due diligence in trying to guide him toward his best potential.

As for the agent's response, please.  He's just doing his job, he knows Rondo is in a position to command money around the league, and it his job to deflect the efforts of Danny et al to set his market price.  These comments are right out of the agent comment handbook, How To Be An Agent 101.  Don't take any of it too seriously, he's feigning outrage but I assure you everyone knows it's nothing personal, just business.

Very good post and spot on IMO. 

Interesting stat:

Reggie's Ghost 382TPs/372Posts

HOF material?

Haha please, those stats are padded because I make sigs for people.

Plus I show up late to these threads after eating spicy food before posting, and I'm inconsistant 

Well deserved padding though, as a matter of fact I'm giving you another TP right now.

[KG]

What's funny about this is that Ainge was answering questions that mostly were engineered from an interview that Rondo did not long ago. This is like a trial, when a subject is touched upon it's fair game for everyone.

For example, Rondo talked about him wanting to be a MAX contract player. As a consequence Ainge was asked if Rondo was a MAX contract player and he answered.

Rondo talked about being late for games, etc. As a consequence Ainge was asked about this particular issue.

A lot of the questions probably were a direct result of the Rondo interview, like you said.  It also seemed like Danny was trying to talk about the Celtics as a team, but the questions that kept coming were Rondo, Rondo, Rondo questions.  Like they were pushing him to bad-mouth Rondo in one way or another.  I don't know, maybe I'm wrong.  That's just my opinion of the Ainge interview yesterday.

[BudweiserCeltic]

What's funny about this is that Ainge was answering questions that mostly were engineered from an interview that Rondo did not long ago. This is like a trial, when a subject is touched upon it's fair game for everyone.

For example, Rondo talked about him wanting to be a MAX contract player. As a consequence Ainge was asked if Rondo was a MAX contract player and he answered.

Rondo talked about being late for games, etc. As a consequence Ainge was asked about this particular issue.

A lot of the questions probably were a direct result of the Rondo interview, like you said.  It also seemed like Danny was trying to talk about the Celtics as a team, but the questions that kept coming were Rondo, Rondo, Rondo questions.  Like they were pushing him to bad-mouth Rondo in one way or another.  I don't know, maybe I'm wrong.  That's just my opinion of the Ainge interview yesterday.

You're completely correct. That's why I always like to hear/read what questions were asked to get the correct perspective.

[bobdelt]

I'm worried about Rondo and his agent, and how they feel after all this rumor talk.

It would be a nightmare if we dont trade Rondo and he walks, or we have a Pau Gasol type trade during the season because we're afraid he wont resign.

[gustusias]

I hate to be different, but I would not give Ainge that much credit to think this is all improvised. Wyc showed us how stupid they can be by trying to be Bellichik with Kevin and then afterwards announcing it. No, I am sorry. Ainge just talked too much. He was caught in an awkward situation and tried to be delicate about all this and became stupid by not being careful with his words. This is Danny. Always strikingly direct and apparently to others even shocking. Ainge does not back down.He will say what he has in mind. Like him or not. That has always been Danny. Duffy is right to defend his agent.
 
 To continue though I blame mostly the media for this whole situation. Danny didn't really criticize his point guard in an abusive way. In fact what he did say was really nothing. It was the media blowing this up to be so much more. This is a classic moment of internet obsession and the out of control need for small people to be big. The computer puts these would be average desire-to-bes in contact with a much greater world. This is where words become blown into different shapes. This is where every piece of stray printed material by anybody anyplace becomes the latest hot rumor destined to hurt a player, a coach, a human being. It is precisely blogs like this one, developed and nurtured because of the computer who are the demons for this type of trouble.

That's it. I am done.