I am very nervous about building our team around Rondo in the future

[CelticG1]

I love Rondo. I think he is a very special and unique talent and I think everyone can agree that he is the absolute perfect point guard for our team at the moment.

Looking into the future however I can't help but cringe when thinking about building around Rondo. If we replace our big 3 with Dwight Howard and other all-stars than of course I am not worried, but more than likely that won't happen and I don't know if Rondo will be able to carry our team enough during the post Big 3 era to attract some of these stars.

I feel like just about every elite point guard that has ever played the game was somewhat of a scorer. Since Rondo has 4 HOF's on the team now he doesn't need to do that, but once they are gone will Rondo really be able to score consistently? He does not have a jumper, is a terrible free throw shooter and any improvements he has made in these categories have been very minimal.

The only point guard that I can think of that wasn't much of a scorer (and I'm not even completely positive on this) is/was Jason Kidd. He was able to elevate somewhat mediocre to good talent on his team and turn the Nets into a legit team in the NBA.

Can and will Rondo be the real future of our team? Does he have enough to be a real superstar in the league? Post big 3 what do people see Rondo being like? Can he be the next J kidd? Will he be more? These are some sobering thoughts I've been having while thinking about the future

[footey]

Not me.

[PosImpos]

He's definitely not a complete player as long as he's so limited as a scorer.  I share your concern regarding the idea of building around a player with Rondo's current limitations. 

However, the first thing to note is that we really don't have a choice.  We're not going to get a better building block than Rondo with any of our current assets (including Rondo). 

Furthermore, his performances in the playoffs have demonstrated his ability to step up and take over games when he has a mind to do so.  We have to hope that once the Big 3 are no longer around, he'll take it upon himself to have a larger role on the offensive end (aside from racking up assists). 

Still, he's going to have to work on his jumpshot and become at least a credible free throw shooter (70%) to be able to carry the team to any degree.  Until he can do that, he'll always be a tier below players like Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, even if he's a better facilitator and defender than they are.

[Fafnir]

Rondo can be an excellent scorer when he's aggressive even with our current roster, when Pierce/KG were both out he scored a lot more. He also scored more in the playoffs when the match ups dictated he had the advantage.

He's not a shooter, but that's not enough of a weakness to derail the idea of building around him. I don't think he's an MVP caliber player, but he's pretty close to that tier. Its hard to find those sort of players, so we need to build around him.

[Redz]

Tranquilo

[EJPLAYA]

Rondo will be the perfect opportunity for a sign and trade (or sooner we don't make it through his current contract ends) once we have determined we are in rebuilding mode. Without the Big Three we are not a player away from continuing the title run. We will be 2-3 players away.

Perk is a defender only. No offense to speak of. Rondo is a pure PG with no real offensive threat. BBD isn't a championship caliber starting PF. Just a solid bench guy. Not a huge offensive threat either. Take Rondo and turn him into a star player at the 3 or 4 spot plus a high draft pick or two. Let Perk and BBD walk if they want too much coin.

This is a 2 year window folks and we're back to the 90's again without some luck.

[EJPLAYA]

Can anyone name a championship team that was built around a PG? (other than maybe Magic who really wasn't a PG. He was the swiss army knife of nba players)

[Chris]

I definitely share a lot of the same worries.  I think Rondo still has a long way to go in his game to reach that true superstar PG level to carry a team.  I think without a great supporting cast, unless he can really improve with his shot (which I have certainly not ruled out, but have not seen yet), he will become very average.  

I also worry about him as a guy who relies so much on athleticism, that if he ever does get a serious injury, I am not sure he will be able to recover from it and still be effective.

This is why I think it is so imperative that the C's do everything they can to surround him with other stars.  He is not going to be the type of player you can just surround with good role players, and hope he brings you to the promised land.  With other stars around him, he has a special skillset that will make everyone better (including himself).  

[Spilling Green Dye]

Clearly Rondo needs quality people around him to bring out his best attributes, but there is a big positive to consider:  Rondo's contract is so financially friendly (compared to his real value) that he hardly impacts the signing of a superstar. 

If Rondo where making $14-$16mil per year then I'd absolutely agree with the difficulty of building around him.  But once the 'big 3' come off the books there will be enough $$ for a superstar, some good role players, and Rondo.. which should make for a very good team.

My primary concern is that we won't have any assets to acquire a great player to put alongside Rondo, and we'll be forced to watch mediocre players play.

[EJPLAYA]

You build around a superstar, not a PG. Especially when they are limited in their abilities. Players like Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Shaq, etc. If our goal is to build around Rondo then I'm cancelling my League Pass because it won't work. Rondo is a piece around PP and KG. Yes he is arguably the best player on the team right now (although I still argue that KG is right there still), but that doesn't mean that when the others retire that he becomes the central point. He is still a piece around a superstar or two, albiet a great one. He's the type of piece that allows you to be a perennial contender vs. an occasional one like a Dallas or Orlando.

[BballTim]

Can anyone name a championship team that was built around a PG? (other than maybe Magic who really wasn't a PG. He was the swiss army knife of nba players)

  The Pistons. But what's the point? Can you name multiple title teams without great centers? I can. How about power forwards, small forwards, shooting guards or point guards? I could do that as well. You normally can't win without a great Big, but then you can't win with only a great Big. you need other top players around them, whatever position they play. Rondo would be one of those pieces.

[BballTim]

You build around a superstar, not a PG. Especially when they are limited in their abilities.

  How many players in the history of the league weren't limited in their abilities?

[housecall]

Sytle of play will be the key.When the Big 3 is not relavent on this team unless they pick up three more older veteran players to replace them the style of play will probably be geared to the age group of the starters.Rondo still being relatively young at that time will probably work best with a more up/down transitional type team.The chances of bringing in three veteran all stars are very slim to none.Changing style of play to being closer to a euro-style offense would take players that can get out on the break and players who can stretch the floor.I don't think it will be so much thinking about suiting one players talent level but what fits better as a team.Rondo has to fit into the system they chose to incorporate.Danny might look to change the teams direction in the future.IMO

[pearljammer10]

Thats too bad... I'm not nervous at all. Im looking forward to it.

[GreenFaith1819]

Nervous?

Not I:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-nY2xU07c