Rondo Voted the 12th Best Player to Build Around

[theswitch]

SI polled 137 NBA players about who they would want to build a franchise around, and here was the top 15:

1. Lebron James
2. Dwight Howard
3. Kevin Durant
4. Kobe Bryant
5. Derrick Rose
6. Chris Paul
7. Dwyane Wade
8. Steve Nash
9. Blake Griffin
10. Deron Williams
11. Pau Gasol
12. Rajon Rondo
13. Eric Gordon
14. Ricky Rubio
15. Andrew Bynum

Now, I will say that some players seem off their rocker if Steve Nash is a better player to build around than, say, Russell Westbrook, but it's interesting. Building would imply younger players to me, and I'm surprised not to see Melo, Westbrook, Irving or Monroe on the list. Gasol is a great player but I wouldn't want to build around a guy in his 30s unless he's Kobe. Rubio over Westbrook or Irving was confusing to me as well.

But, the point of this post is that it's cool to see Rondo up there at #12. One of the most important things for this franchise moving forward is if other players think Rondo can be a primary building block, and if they would sign here to play with him. Clearly, this poll is evidence for those who argue for building around Rajon since other impact players would want to play with him.

Here's a link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1203/nba.poll.franchise.player/content.1.html

[PosImpos]

Most players would not make very good GMs, I see.

[miraclejohan]

SI polled 137 NBA players about who they would want to build a franchise around, and here was the top 15:

1. Lebron James
2. Dwight Howard
3. Kevin Durant
4. Kobe Bryant
5. Derrick Rose
6. Chris Paul
7. Dwyane Wade
8. Steve Nash
9. Blake Griffin
10. Deron Williams
11. Pau Gasol
12. Rajon Rondo
13. Eric Gordon
14. Ricky Rubio
15. Andrew Bynum

Now, I will say that some players seem off their rocker if Steve Nash is a better player to build around than, say, Russell Westbrook, but it's interesting. Building would imply younger players to me, and I'm surprised not to see Melo, Westbrook, Irving or Monroe on the list. Gasol is a great player but I wouldn't want to build around a guy in his 30s unless he's Kobe. Rubio over Westbrook or Irving was confusing to me as well.

But, the point of this post is that it's cool to see Rondo up there at #12. One of the most important things for this franchise moving forward is if other players think Rondo can be a primary building block, and if they would sign here to play with him. Clearly, this poll is evidence for those who argue for building around Rajon since other impact players would want to play with him.

Here's a link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1203/nba.poll.franchise.player/content.1.html

The way I see it is this.  Without a passer, the bigs and the olds don't do much.  Ask current-day Orlando.  New list:

1. Lebron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Derrick Rose
4. Chris Paul
5. Dwyane Wade
6. Rajon Rondo
7. Deron Williams
8. Blake Griffin
9. Eric Gordon
10.Brian Scalabrine (from intense practices)

There you have it. Rondo = 6th best.

[BASS_THUMPER]

B Scalabrine gots to be in the top 20 players to build around...

Most players would not make very good GMs, I see.

and if Scalabine is not  i agree with the above

[mqtcelticsfan]

Kobe, Nash and Gasol have no business being on this list.

[GreenFaith1819]

Rondo's in the right spot.

Glad to see him getting some recognition - warts and all.

[jdz101]

Steve Nash.....

Must be a pretty speedy build considering he's nearing 40...

[GreenFaith1819]

Steve Nash.....

Must be a pretty speedy build considering he's nearing 40...

I found that an intriguing choice, too.

I remember listening to Kurt (I bleed purp and gold) Rambis on ESPN a month or so ago..he was asked to rate his top five PGs, and he left Rondo out of the list (figures).

He had Nash in his top 5, along with DRose, CP3, Deron, and Westbrook.

The reasoning? He said that Rondo has no outside shot - all the while oblivious to the man being a 1st team All-NBA Defender.

Listening to him say that, all I could think about was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-RLXkp-ucE

 

[Smutzy#9]

Nash is one day going to make one insanely good Head Coach/ GM for a franchise

[Celtics18]

Most players would not make very good GMs, I see.

I thought most of the top ones were their own GMs these days. 

Rondo needed a good week, both on and off the court: A record books game against the Knicks, some good performances against some other top point guards, a winning streak, Danny, Doc, and Paul all putting their arms around him, and now the news that other NBA players might actually like to play basketball with him. 

I'll forgive tonight's bobbled layup at the end of regulation.

[bfrombleacher]

Rondo's in the right spot.

Glad to see him getting some recognition - warts and all.

Glad that at least someone on this thing thinks Rondo's worth a crap. TP.

[LarBrd33]

Most players would not make very good GMs, I see.

exactly what i was going to say. 

[LarBrd33]

realistically if you're building a team from scratch right now you'd take the following players over Rondo.

Bron
Dwight
Durant
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Rose

Kinda no-brainers there.  

You have to take Wade over him too, right?  Another no-brainer.

Tough call whether to take Rondo or Westbrook.

And beyond that I really can't fault anyone for taking guys still on their rookie deals to build around such as Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, DeMarcus Cousins, Rubio... I'd trade Rondo right now for Curry or Irving without question.  You could probably talk me into Cousins or Rubio just based on their potential and contracts.

Also can't fault anyone who would try to win in the short window with a guy like Kobe or Dirk.  Think of it this way... if you're starting a franchise from scratch and need to grab a guy... who has more trade value?  Kobe or Rondo?  You'd have to take Kobe even if you didn't plan on keeping Kobe.

Also can't fault anyone who would rather start building by grabbing a big... so that means Bynum, Pau and Bosh are all defensible.  

I mean, really... the case could be made that taking Greg Monroe over Rondo would be better since Monroe is a 6'11, 250 pound PF/C who is 21 years old, averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds and makes under 5.5 million until 2015.  I'd have to think real hard about taking Greg Monroe over Rondo if I'm grabbing a guy to build a team from scratch.  Why take on Rondo's 12 mil if I can take on Greg Monroe making 3.3 mil next year... give myself some cap room to find pieces to fit around my star big man.  I mean, really... if Detroit offered us Greg Monroe right now straight up for Rondo (and could swallow Rondo's salary), wouldn't we have to do it?  We'd have to, right?  Based entirely on the logic that having a 21 year old big man on his rookie deal is better to build around than a 26 year old PG making 12 mil.  So that kinda answers it.    

So by my count... Rondo is arguably #21

[Bahku]

Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant?!?

How do you "build a team around" players who will be retired in 3-to-5 years?

As consultant players, absolutely, but to build a future contending team around?

Nonsensical.

[Greenbean]

What in the world is Nash doing on this list?

Rondo between 15-20 seems about right to me.