Bob Cousy: Trading Rondo would be a mistake

[rondohondo]

Bob Cousy, point guard emeritus of the Boston Celtics, agrees that his old team has its share of problems. He just doesn’t count Rajon Rondo among them.

Cousy believes Celtics GM Danny Ainge would be making a big mistake if he trades Rondo by the March 15 deadline.

“I’m out of the loop, but boy, unless he’s a serial killer on the side I wouldn’t let this kid go,” Cousy said by phone. “I don’t know where you’d find a better point guard.”

The 83-year-old Hall of Famer conceded that Rondo, a three-time All-Star, is a poor perimeter shooter who struggles from the foul line, but said, “He overcomes that because he’s such a strong penetrator and a good finisher. He sees the floor well, he’s a force on both backboards, and he’s an excellent defender for that position. I think he touches all the bases.”

Cousy doesn’t view the playmaker as Boston’s most pressing concern, not with the advanced age of the team’s Big Three -- Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen -- threatening to keep the Celtics from legitimate title contention.

“They’re in the middle,” Cousy said, “and the worst place to finish in this league is in the middle. ... I don’t see how trading Rondo would help. Good young point guards are very hard to find.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/13435/cousy-trading-rondo-would-be-big-mistake

He's 100% right unless you can get another top 20 player or top 5 pick hang onto Rondo, he makes everyone better, especially when he has players that can run with him. C's have plenty of cap room and draft picks to get help this summer, if not by the deadline. He is signed to a great contract .

[Yogi]

Cousy says unless Rondo develops the irritable habit of killing more than the fashionable amount of people, he wouldn't trade him.  I don't see any exceptions for "other top 20 players" or "top 5 pick."  You trade role players like Perkins, Tony Allen, Avery Bradley, Greg Stiemsma and Glen Davis, not stars.

[lon3lytoaster]

Cous really isn't a modern day basketball expert.. I don't think he really even watches many games anymore, but the "Serial killer on the side" made me chuckle and I tend to agree with him here. I'd trade Rondo for Chris Paul or Deron Williams, probably not Gasol with his age and contract.

[Celtics4ever]

Cousy has forgot more about basketball than you ever known bud.

[lon3lytoaster]

Cousy has forgot more about basketball than you ever known bud.

Ooooohk? Cousy himself admits he's out of the loop. Last time he was with Mike and Tommy he didn't know half the player's names.

Forgive me if I don't value his opinion on our current situation.

[2short]

Say what you will about Cous but the first preseason game that rondo played tommy & cous were broadcasting and NO DOUBT Bob was highly impressed with the rookie out of Kentucky.  Within 10 minutes or so you could tell Cousy was pretty happy about the new pick.

[cman88]

Cousy has forgot more about basketball than you ever known bud.

so, arguably one of the best poitn guards of all time can't evaluate the point guard position??

maybe hes not so much in the loop...but I think he would have an idea of what makes a good PG.

and hes right.everyone wants to use rondo as a scape-goat for our struggles, but the fact is Rondo is a better player today than he was 2-4years ago...the difference?? KG/pp/RA are OLD

why people on this board think trading rondo for more OLD players is a good idea makes no sense to me

[Celtics18]

Cousy has forgot more about basketball than you ever known bud.

Ooooohk? Cousy himself admits he's out of the loop. Last time he was with Mike and Tommy he didn't know half the player's names.

Forgive me if I don't value his opinion on our current situation.

He may be out of the loop, but whenever I've heard Bob Cousy talk basketball, he always sounds really astute and smart about the game.

[2short]

Same thing with Tommy, he gets "homering" during broadcasts because he is so pro celtics but for a serious discussion there is a smart basketball mind.  Can't wait until next year and tommy ball makes a comeback 

[droopdog7]

MJ is the greatest player to ever live.  But as we have seen, that doesn't make you an expert on assembling a team.

Just sayin'.

[cman88]

MJ is the greatest player to ever live.  But as we have seen, that doesn't make you an expert on assembling a team.

Just sayin'.

bob cousy's not building a team. he's evaluating Rondo as a PG...

and only the blind haters on this site refuse to admit that rondo is just a really good PG

[droopdog7]

MJ is the greatest player to ever live.  But as we have seen, that doesn't make you an expert on assembling a team.

Just sayin'.

bob cousy's not building a team. he's evaluating Rondo as a PG...

and only the blind haters on this site refuse to admit that rondo is just a really good PG

Willingness to trade a player doesn't mean you think they suck.  In fact, in most cases it is the opposite.  You generally have to trade value to get value.

In the NBA, there are only a handful of players that generally speaking are untradeable because it is nearly impossible to get equal value.

For every other player, trading them can improve your team.  Of course, the question is always, who you getting back?  In Rondo's case, he's nowhere near irreplaceable.  Indeed, it is possible that he is overvalued.

[BballTim]

MJ is the greatest player to ever live.  But as we have seen, that doesn't make you an expert on assembling a team.

Just sayin'.

  Larry Bird was a better player. He's also better at assembling teams than MJ.

[Celtics4ever]

Larry had basketball IQ in spades.  Jordan had some but got by more on athletic ability.

Cousy is champion.  He was the premier PG in his day.  He was a star and played with and against some all time stars.   I think he knows more than any of us on the board.

[slamtheking]

Cousy has forgot more about basketball than you ever known bud.

Ooooohk? Cousy himself admits he's out of the loop. Last time he was with Mike and Tommy he didn't know half the player's names.

Forgive me if I don't value his opinion on our current situation.

He may be out of the loop, but whenever I've heard Bob Cousy talk basketball, he always sounds really astute and smart about the game.

this.

I miss Cousy on the broadcasts.  He used to provide a less-biased, more straightforward appraisal of the game than Tommy.