29 points,13 assists, 18 rebounds

[The Walker Wiggle]

Followed by the very next award...

THE MARK CUBAN AWARD FOR "BEST DECISION TO MAKE A MOVE BEFORE THE MARKET CHANGED"

To the Celtics for locking up Rondo to a five-year, $55 million extension in November. He's already underpaid and it hasn't even kicked in yet: If Rondo were available on July 1, he'd be the third-biggest free-agent target behind LeBron and Dwyane Wade (and a lock for a max deal). By the way, would you rather have Rondo at $30 million total for the 2011-12-13 seasons… or Chris Paul/Deron Williams at $49 million? It's a valid question. All right, I'll stop talking about Rondo before my jinx powers kick in and he blows out every ligament in his body.

[nickagneta]

Love Simmons or hate Simmons but when he wants to, the guy can really make you think.

By the way, would you rather have Rondo at $30 million total for the 2011-12-13 seasons… or Chris Paul/Deron Williams at $49 million? It's a valid question.

Now maybe fans could care less what you are paying these guys and say, give me the best player and would choose Paul or Williams, but my guess is General Managers and Presidents of basketball operation across the league would answer that they would take Rondo and the $19 million savings over 3 years.

Given that if Simmons is right and that Rondo right now would command max level money on the open market, Danny Ainge saved the Celtics $26.5 million by signing Rondo to that 5 year $55 million contract.

[Roy Hobbs]

I go away for vacation to South Africa for one week, and Rondo turns into Oscar Robertson. 

[Fafnir]

I go away for vacation to South Africa for one week, and Rondo turns into Oscar Robertson. 

Sounds like you need to buy a house there....

I'll pitch in for a dish so you can watch the games at least.

[Roy Hobbs]

I go away for vacation to South Africa for one week, and Rondo turns into Oscar Robertson. 

Sounds like you need to buy a house there....

I'll pitch in for a dish so you can watch the games at least.

Sounds good to me.  I loved it over there; the only American things I thought about were the Celts and the Bruins.

[BballTim]

Love Simmons or hate Simmons but when he wants to, the guy can really make you think.

By the way, would you rather have Rondo at $30 million total for the 2011-12-13 seasons… or Chris Paul/Deron Williams at $49 million? It's a valid question.

Now maybe fans could care less what you are paying these guys and say, give me the best player and would choose Paul or Williams, but my guess is General Managers and Presidents of basketball operation across the league would answer that they would take Rondo and the $19 million savings over 3 years.

Given that if Simmons is right and that Rondo right now would command max level money on the open market, Danny Ainge saved the Celtics $26.5 million by signing Rondo to that 5 year $55 million contract.

  Which is really $40M-$53M (depending on our future rosters) including luxury tax. This is why I wanted Danny to lock up Rondo last summer when most people wanted him to wait and let Rondo hit the market as a RFA.

[nickagneta]

Love Simmons or hate Simmons but when he wants to, the guy can really make you think.

By the way, would you rather have Rondo at $30 million total for the 2011-12-13 seasons… or Chris Paul/Deron Williams at $49 million? It's a valid question.

Now maybe fans could care less what you are paying these guys and say, give me the best player and would choose Paul or Williams, but my guess is General Managers and Presidents of basketball operation across the league would answer that they would take Rondo and the $19 million savings over 3 years.

Given that if Simmons is right and that Rondo right now would command max level money on the open market, Danny Ainge saved the Celtics $26.5 million by signing Rondo to that 5 year $55 million contract.

  Which is really $40M-$53M (depending on our future rosters) including luxury tax. This is why I wanted Danny to lock up Rondo last summer when most people wanted him to wait and let Rondo hit the market as a RFA.

I was with you there BBall. I desperately wanted Rondo locked up before the season and thought the contract more than fair but also a bargain at the time. I remember distinctly people complaining about the amount of the contract and then going so far as to criticize Rondo's play early in the year saying the money had gone to his head.

But I also clearly remember a very large contingent of people who, like us, felt it a very good signing.

[Kwhit10]

Yea having a great young PG with a underpaid contract will definitely help this team rebuild when the older guys start leaving.

That definitely will be the best contract to have for the duration of it if he continues to grow the way he has.

[twinbree]

I keep forgetting he's still on his rookie contract. I bet one or two GMs are gnashing their teeth on what could have been if he'd gotten traded or not signed the extension.

[twinbree]

Real NBA had a nice little piece on the game with a couple of great clips from the ASG. KG and Rondo joking around = gold for me. They never fail to crack me up.

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2010/05/12/20100512_nba_real_rondo.nba/

[dmopower]

D Wade would be the perfect guard to play with Ray and Rondo.