Define "building around". Why do they keep saying we can't build around Rondo?

[Who]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

Attempt to build a team in the mold of the 2004 Detroit Pistons / 1979 Seattle Supersonics

[indeedproceed]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

Attempt to build a team in the mold of the 2004 Detroit Pistons / 1979 Seattle Supersonics

And probably not succeed.

[RAG50K]

I think it makes more sense to judge Rondo's potential as a #1 or #2 option this year. So far, he's mostly been the 3rd or 4th option on offense, and the times he was called onto handle more of the scoring (2009 Chicago series, 2010 Cleveland and Orlando series) he was pretty amazing.

[BballTim]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

Attempt to build a team in the mold of the 2004 Detroit Pistons / 1979 Seattle Supersonics

And probably not succeed.

  Hoping to land a Bird/Magic/Shaq/TD/MJ is an equally low probability.

[indeedproceed]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

Attempt to build a team in the mold of the 2004 Detroit Pistons / 1979 Seattle Supersonics

And probably not succeed.

  Hoping to land a Bird/Magic/Shaq/TD/MJ is an equally low probability.

Agree. Every year there are 20 or so teams in the same boat; 'Not good enough to win it all, but not bad enough to get a top 3 pick'.

Its hard out there for a pimp, Tim.

[Marcus13]

Isn't building around Rondo relatively easy? A couple of great scorers, a solid defensive center (Robin Lopez) and a few more role players to fill the gaps.

Well, that's an oxymoron

[cman88]

It think you can build around rondo as a cornerstone. Allstarpointguards dont grow on yes.but he should be the #2 or#3 scoring option and leader. You need to surround join with similar prices the team has now. A guy who can score in the low post and a knock down sg who can get his shot off in traffic and finish at the rim.

Josh smith would be good and likely score more paying with rondo. Idk if oj mayo is allstar talent. But he could be. Both have exposed interest in playing with rondo. And josh smith is still good friends with rondo. the drat next year looks really strong for shooting guards.

[Moranis]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

There are more then 8-10 players in the last 30 years that fit that bill.  Just because guys have come up short doesn't mean they weren't #1 players capable of winning titles.  I would argue there are 14 active players that fit that mold (though many are no longer in their prime).  In no particular order, they are James, Wade, Howard, Dirk, Bryant, Paul, Durant, Duncan, Rose, Kidd, Nash, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.  This does not count Anthony, Amare, Bosh, Williams, etc. who could potentially be that guy if the supporting cast was sufficient (none of had a supporting cast to test really them), nor guys like Blake Griffin and Westbrook who seemingly have the skill set though haven't had the chance to show what they can do in that role.  I've also excluded guys like Ray Allen and Vince Carter, though they have had a great deal of success both as an individual and as a team.  

[BballTim]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

There are more then 8-10 players in the last 30 years that fit that bill.  Just because guys have come up short doesn't mean they weren't #1 players capable of winning titles.  I would argue there are 14 active players that fit that mold (though many are no longer in their prime).  In no particular order, they are James, Wade, Howard, Dirk, Bryant, Paul, Durant, Duncan, Rose, Kidd, Nash, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.  This does not count Anthony, Amare, Bosh, Williams, etc. who could potentially be that guy if the supporting cast was sufficient (none of had a supporting cast to test really them), nor guys like Blake Griffin and Westbrook who seemingly have the skill set though haven't had the chance to show what they can do in that role.  I've also excluded guys like Ray Allen and Vince Carter, though they have had a great deal of success both as an individual and as a team.  

  If your list is that big it should also include Rondo.

[Fafnir]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

There are more then 8-10 players in the last 30 years that fit that bill.  Just because guys have come up short doesn't mean they weren't #1 players capable of winning titles.  I would argue there are 14 active players that fit that mold (though many are no longer in their prime).  In no particular order, they are James, Wade, Howard, Dirk, Bryant, Paul, Durant, Duncan, Rose, Kidd, Nash, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.  This does not count Anthony, Amare, Bosh, Williams, etc. who could potentially be that guy if the supporting cast was sufficient (none of had a supporting cast to test really them), nor guys like Blake Griffin and Westbrook who seemingly have the skill set though haven't had the chance to show what they can do in that role.  I've also excluded guys like Ray Allen and Vince Carter, though they have had a great deal of success both as an individual and as a team.  

  If your list is that big it should also include Rondo.

Potentially, I'm just not sure Rondo is up to the task. His role on the Celtics means that we don't quite know yet in my view.

[BballTim]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

There are more then 8-10 players in the last 30 years that fit that bill.  Just because guys have come up short doesn't mean they weren't #1 players capable of winning titles.  I would argue there are 14 active players that fit that mold (though many are no longer in their prime).  In no particular order, they are James, Wade, Howard, Dirk, Bryant, Paul, Durant, Duncan, Rose, Kidd, Nash, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.  This does not count Anthony, Amare, Bosh, Williams, etc. who could potentially be that guy if the supporting cast was sufficient (none of had a supporting cast to test really them), nor guys like Blake Griffin and Westbrook who seemingly have the skill set though haven't had the chance to show what they can do in that role.  I've also excluded guys like Ray Allen and Vince Carter, though they have had a great deal of success both as an individual and as a team.  

  If your list is that big it should also include Rondo.

Potentially, I'm just not sure Rondo is up to the task. His role on the Celtics means that we don't quite know yet in my view.

  Do we somehow know that all the other people on his list are up to the task?

[ballin]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

You build them up while adding other attractive trade pieces in the hope of either getting lucky or using them in a big trade.

This guy got it right.

You can try tanking to get a top pick. Hell, if you're low enough to the bottom already this might not be a bad choice.

In the alternative, you can try to draft and trade wisely. If you do it right and you're really lucky, you might convince a free agent superstar to join the team on his own accord. More likely, you'll be able to develop a large enough stable of young talent that you can offload the "potential" guys for some older "stars" in order to get into contention. (kind of exactly how we got KG, and then Ray as a result).

Trying to build a team like the Pistons 2004 team, though, is destined to fail. Teams that have been trying that and failing for forever include the Bucks, the Rockets, the Jazz, the Grizzlies (despite their playoff run I still think they're overrated and they won't ever truly contend) the Hawks, and a few other teams I'm failing to think of.

Bottom line, if you're not in contention you need to start stocking young players with talent and potential. If you get the number 1 pick while doing this, then all the better, but tanking shouldn't be your intention unless you're really just THAT bad.

[mgent]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

Which is why Danny got him on a very reasonable #2/#3 option contract, and cleared the space to add a #1.

[Moranis]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

There are more then 8-10 players in the last 30 years that fit that bill.  Just because guys have come up short doesn't mean they weren't #1 players capable of winning titles.  I would argue there are 14 active players that fit that mold (though many are no longer in their prime).  In no particular order, they are James, Wade, Howard, Dirk, Bryant, Paul, Durant, Duncan, Rose, Kidd, Nash, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.  This does not count Anthony, Amare, Bosh, Williams, etc. who could potentially be that guy if the supporting cast was sufficient (none of had a supporting cast to test really them), nor guys like Blake Griffin and Westbrook who seemingly have the skill set though haven't had the chance to show what they can do in that role.  I've also excluded guys like Ray Allen and Vince Carter, though they have had a great deal of success both as an individual and as a team.  

  If your list is that big it should also include Rondo.

Rondo's scoring deficiencies do not put him on that list.  To be a #1 you have to be able to make defenses pay if they don't double team you.  You barely have to guard Rondo outside of the foul line extended.  He will never be a #1 guy.  He is a secondary or tertiary piece on a title team.  That is his role.  It is necessary for all title teams, but it is much easier to find a secondary piece then a #1 guy. 

[Moranis]

You build around a player that can be a #1 player on a championship squad.  Rondo is not that guy.

  This begs the question, what do you do when you don't have one of the 8-10 or so such players that have entered the league in the last 30 years or so? Continually tank?

There are more then 8-10 players in the last 30 years that fit that bill.  Just because guys have come up short doesn't mean they weren't #1 players capable of winning titles.  I would argue there are 14 active players that fit that mold (though many are no longer in their prime).  In no particular order, they are James, Wade, Howard, Dirk, Bryant, Paul, Durant, Duncan, Rose, Kidd, Nash, Pierce, Garnett, Gasol.  This does not count Anthony, Amare, Bosh, Williams, etc. who could potentially be that guy if the supporting cast was sufficient (none of had a supporting cast to test really them), nor guys like Blake Griffin and Westbrook who seemingly have the skill set though haven't had the chance to show what they can do in that role.  I've also excluded guys like Ray Allen and Vince Carter, though they have had a great deal of success both as an individual and as a team.  

  If your list is that big it should also include Rondo.

Potentially, I'm just not sure Rondo is up to the task. His role on the Celtics means that we don't quite know yet in my view.

  Do we somehow know that all the other people on his list are up to the task?

Sure because most of them have led their teams to the finals as the #1 option on their team.  If you can do that, then your team can win a title with you as the #1 option.  And the few that haven't gone to the finals have gone to conference finals as the #1 option and have multiple playoff series victories as the teams #1 option.