How comfortable are you building around Rajon Rondo?

[blink]

Rondo is not a player to be mature to lead a champion team. Never showing leadership skills. Cs team has 2 options to rebuilt or to redemensionate the roster:
1. Trading Rondo and keeping KG+Pp like e core of this team
2. Trade  KG+PP and bulit based on Rondo

I am positive for the first option

We have way more options than the 2 you listed.  It isn't either keep RR and trade pp and kg or visa versa.  That is just silly.  I know you are a Rondo hater, but even then it doesn't make sense.  If you want to trade Rondo, you wait until he recovers from his injury to raise his trade value.

With Doc leaving, I highly doubt that both KG and PP are back next year.  KG probably more likely to be here next year.  But only if he sees signs of life with the roster.

[blink]

I think this 'build around' is all semantics.  I agree that it doesn't look like Rondo will be ever be a #1 scoring option.  But I don't think we need him to be.  To me he certainly has shown toughness, grit, spirit, and those are qualities we want in a leader of the celtics.  Especially in the playoffs.  He can be the leader but not be the leading scorer..

I liked the word 'build with' someone mentioned earlier.  I think that is closer to what we are really doing.  Right now Rondo is on a great contract for his ability and skill level.  I don't see us trading him unless we are offered an all star level player or a top 5 pick in next years draft.

[erisred]

Define "building around".

"Building around" as in treating him like the best player on the team -- zero confidence in that. He may be great in setting up the table, and prone to the occasional stroke of defensive genius, but I don't see him as the type of guy who's going to carry the team on his back (and the post-Big3 teams will need some serious carrying).

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer, he can't really shoot, and he can't make free throws. Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

That's not to say that you can't build around by keeping him and adding that legitimate #1; but if the right deal is out there, I'd move him.

Point for point, this is exactly how I feel about Rondo. Great to build with, great as an asset if you *have* to move him, but not a legitimate #1...and you've got to get *that* player to compete for Championships.

Pierce was almost that #1 player, I'd call him 1A and KG (another 1A) made it work. Neither is that any longer.

I don't think Green or Rondo can be better than #2. I feel the same way about Smith, he's a #2. All have flaws in their games that aren't compensated by the other's strengths.

Green, Rondo, Sully, Bradley, none of them are *the* player you can build around. All four of them could very easily be players you want to put around that #1, or just as easily be players you trade to bring in that #1.

[bleedGREENdon]

Define "building around".

"Building around" as in treating him like the best player on the team -- zero confidence in that. He may be great in setting up the table, and prone to the occasional stroke of defensive genius, but I don't see him as the type of guy who's going to carry the team on his back (and the post-Big3 teams will need some serious carrying).

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer, he can't really shoot, and he can't make free throws. Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

That's not to say that you can't build around by keeping him and adding that legitimate #1; but if the right deal is out there, I'd move him.

Point for point, this is exactly how I feel about Rondo. Great to build with, great as an asset if you *have* to move him, but not a legitimate #1...and you've got to get *that* player to compete for Championships.

Pierce was almost that #1 player, I'd call him 1A and KG (another 1A) made it work. Neither is that any longer.

I don't think Green or Rondo can be better than #2. I feel the same way about Smith, he's a #2. All have flaws in their games that aren't compensated by the other's strengths.

Green, Rondo, Sully, Bradley, none of them are *the* player you can build around. All four of them could very easily be players you want to put around that #1, or just as easily be players you trade to bring in that #1.

JEFF GREEN IS THAT NUMBER 1

[erisred]

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer,

Why is an assist worth less than a field goal? What's the difference between a player scoring 20 points and generating 8 assists (or 36 total points) in a game, and a player scoring 12 points and generating 12 assists (or 36 total points) in a game? How do you feel about John Stockton?

Loved John Stockton, but...how many championships did he win again?

Okay, not to be snarky, but to me Stockton <--> Rondo. Both are great players to put next to that "franchise player" that wins you championships. Malone + Stockton couldn't do it. In their prime, Shaq + Stockton, Kobe + Stockton, or even KG + Stockton might very well have!

MJ, Shaq, Kobe and Pierce/KG (maybe) are franchise players. So are Lebron (spit) and Durant (maybe). They are *necessary*, but not sufficient. You still have to put one really good player next to them, plus good role players.

Rondo could be that really good player. Nothing wrong with that.

What the C's have to be asking, though is  Rondo + WHO? Where WHO is the *really* important guy.

[Jon]

If Danny I can get Josh Smith here, I think it's worth seeing what Rondo can do with Smith, Green, and the other young talent we have.  That's likely not enough to be a contender (unless Green lives up to KG's prognostication), but likely a playoff that team that with some savvy drafting and trades could get there. 

If he can't get Smith or another star quickly, it might be worth seeing what we can get for Rondo.  On one hand it might, be better to let him recover and boost his value.  But if we wait for him to regain his form, he also might prove during that time that he isn't a player you can build around.  So it's a tough call. 

[Casperian]

His age worries me. 28 years old next season. Not a lot of time to put a Championship caliber team around him while he still in his prime.

I think that 5+ years ought to be enough time.

You want a 32-year-old Rondo slashing to the basket?

[CFAN38]

For the past couple years ive been saying that the team can be built around Rondo but its going to take a very specific style of team.

I like the idea of a mix of the jason Kidd led Nets and Billups led Pistons.

The Kid Nets of 01-02 52-30 had a top 7 rotation of

Pg Kidd
Sg Kittles
Sf Van Horn
PF Martin
C  MacCulloch
Jefferson
Aaron Williams
Lucias Harris

This team featured 4 players averaging around 14pts a game and 3 around 6. They had 4 players who where better then 32% 3pt shooters.

05-06 Pistons top 7 rotation

PG Billups
SG Hamilton
SF Prince
PF R Wallace
C  B Wallace
McDyess
Delk

This team featured Hamilton as leading scorer with 20pts/g, Billups 18, Sheed 15 and Prince 14. Then 3 players averaged 7. With the exception of B Wallace and McDyess the other 4 where good 3pt shooters (hamilton didnt take many he lived in the mid range).

Looking at the nets for the basic blue print for a Rondo team. Kidd averaged 15pts 10ass 7rb. I would expect Rondo to put up close (with less RBs) to that with out the 3pt shooting but better FG%. Next is Jeff Green who I think could have identical production to Van Horn 15pt 7.5rb at SF.

The wholes DA would need fill are..

Athletic PF
Kenyon Martins role could be fielded with the proposed J SMith trade Martin 15pt 5rb 2blk and 1stl.

Big Anchor Center
MacCulloch averaged a suprising 10pt 6rb 1.5blk in 24min. similar to a Gortat or D Jordan.

Shooting 2
Kittles when healthy provided this team floor spacing with his outside shot. This is actually a tough spot to fill maybe JJ Redick?

Athletic bench 2/3
Jefferson was young and super athletic at this point. The player i like the best for this role is still in college. Glenn Robinson III. In the current draft Glenn Rice Jr. may fit this rolse

After that I think Sully and AB or Bass and Lee both fill Aaron Williams and Lucias Harris's roles

[BballTim]

Rondo is a fantastic #2 guy on a winning team.

He does everything.  He passes, rebounds, defends, scores a little, and isn't afraid of the big moment.  All that being said, look at the past six years.  The Finals MVP has been a guy who can get his shot whenever he wants to (Pierce, Kobe twice, Dirk, LeBron twice).  Rondo is a guy who picks his spots on offense, and prefers to dish than score.

There's nothing wrong with that, but I do think that in order for the Celtics to win, Rondo is going to need to be paired with a scoring whatever (big, wing, maybe even another guard).  That guy is going to be the #1 guy for the Celtics if they want to win.

  This is the basic answer to the question. A team with Rondo as it's best player can contend for a title, we've seen it before. Odds are, if he wins a title, there will be a better scorer on the team than him. Half the people here will claim that the other player has to be better because he scores more, so he's the #1 and the team's built around him, not Rondo. Everyone's happy in the end.

[CelticsFan9]

Rondo is a fantastic #2 guy on a winning team.

He does everything.  He passes, rebounds, defends, scores a little, and isn't afraid of the big moment.  All that being said, look at the past six years.  The Finals MVP has been a guy who can get his shot whenever he wants to (Pierce, Kobe twice, Dirk, LeBron twice).  Rondo is a guy who picks his spots on offense, and prefers to dish than score.

There's nothing wrong with that, but I do think that in order for the Celtics to win, Rondo is going to need to be paired with a scoring whatever (big, wing, maybe even another guard).  That guy is going to be the #1 guy for the Celtics if they want to win.

  This is the basic answer to the question. A team with Rondo as it's best player can contend for a title, we've seen it before. Odds are, if he wins a title, there will be a better scorer on the team than him. Half the people here will claim that the other player has to be better because he scores more, so he's the #1 and the team's built around him, not Rondo. Everyone's happy in the end.

I'm not saying this scorer will be better than Rondo JUST BECAUSE he scores more than Rondo.  If I could have my druthers, this player would be very similar to an in-his-prime Pierce, a guy who could run the offense, while still putting up big scoring numbers (as well as being very well-rounded).

That's a player who not only scores more than Rondo, but also is a better player than Rondo, and thus the #1 guy.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

VERY..Rondo is perfect...ask Kobe how he feels about having rondo as his pg...or anyone else in the league.....a pg is supposed to deliver the ball.....not just layup and shoot.....

[D.o.s.]

I would love to see the Celtics build a team around him.

[cman88]

people look to much at "can you build around rondo" for the past 2-3 years he was probably the best player on that team

every team needs 2-3 go to guys in order to be successful. Even in Rondo's sophmore year..it was KG/PP/RA

Rondo can be one of those guys and technically has been the past couple of years....he carried them to the ECF against Miami...but we realisticly need two more in order to truly contend

[rondoallaturca]

There is absolutely no reason Boston should be trading Rondo right now unless we can get a franchise player in return. Not only is his trade value down right now, he's too competitive, too passionate, and is on way too favorable of a contract to let go.

[Celtics4ever]

Very, I do not value his detractors viewpoints at all.   The playoffs proved that we need him.   The win streak quickly fizzled out.  He was missed this year.