Why does Rondo have to be traded?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Mark Stein just released his first NBA Power Rankings of the season, placing the Cs at No. 27, believing only the Bobcats, Suns, and 76ers to be worse—which I don't buy, but that's another topic for another thread.

What I want to highlight here is what he says about the Cs in regards to Rondo:

They have to trade Rajon Rondo. You know it, I know it, everyone in basketball knows it.

I know there's already been plenty of discussion on CB about whether to trade Rondo, but note Stein's language: he doesn't say they should trade Rondo, he says they have to. My question is, Why?

We know, of course, that he's not likely to be traded before proving he's healthy, but assuming he gets back to where he was pre-injury, or even better than that, why does a young, rebuilding team, to use Stein's words, have to trade its best player, who himself is still young and still has room to improve?

Trading KG and Pierce, regardless of whether you liked it, at least made sense in that they're near the end of their basketball road but still valuable enough to get some good pieces in return (expirings, youngsters, picks). I could see trading Rondo if he was the only prospect on the team, but the Cs have several compelling young pieces besides him—Bradley, Sully, Olynyk, Faverani, Brooks. So there's something there for Rondo to work with in the immediate future. Trading Rondo could get the Cs a couple more good young pieces—maybe—but they could be highly unknown quantities who may not pan out, whereas at least we already know that in Rondo we have a champion, All-Star-caliber point guard, which are pretty hard to come by.

So, why, do you think, does Stein believe the Cs have to trade Rondo? Do you agree with him? Why?

[Moranis]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender.  By the time Boston is ready to compete again, Rondo will be on the wrong side of 30 and no longer young and improving.  And that is if Boston doesn't have any misses in the draft and ends up with at least solid value. 

Rajon Rondo doesn't make sense for this team.  He isn't a franchise championship type player and his skill set isn't that of a guy to lead a team (you have to be a consistent scorer to lead a team as a franchise player).  He is very good and will add 5-10 victories to the team, thus hurting a young rebuilding teams draft position.  He also has a poor attitude, only shows up when he wants to, and will likely generally be a problem on a bad/mediocre team.  Couple all of this with Boston's lack of cap space any time soon and there is no real mechanism for Boston to land a true championship type franchise player with Rondo on the team.  For all of those reasons, I agree with Stein, Boston must trade Rondo.

[sahara]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender.  By the time Boston is ready to compete again, Rondo will be on the wrong side of 30 and no longer young and improving.  And that is if Boston doesn't have any misses in the draft and ends up with at least solid value. 

I`m looking to buy a crystal ball, you wouldn`t mind telling me where you find yours?

[Chris]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender. 

Here's the thing that I think people are overlooking.  Rondo plays PG, which is currently the most loaded position in basketball.  Every year there are more good young PGs coming into the league. Rondo is going to be paid what the market bears, and unless he PLAYS like a max player over the next 2 years, he is not going to be paid like one.  PGs generally don't get overpaid like that.

And if he plays like a max player, Danny will gladly give him that contract, and use the assets he has been accumulating to try to put a winning team around him.

The other side of the coin is that he may be exposed a bit without KG and Pierce around, and coming off the injury, which might actually give Danny a chance to resign him at a relative bargain. 

Basically, I just think this idea that the C's have to trade Rondo to be bogus.  I think they have to EXPLORE it, but unless they can get either a better player, or multiple young guys with potential to be better, then you can't give up a guy with the talent and productivity of Rondo.

I think what Danny is looking at two scenarios that would make him happy right now.  One is someone falls in love with Rondo, and meets his high asking price.  Two is Rondo takes it slow coming back this year, the other young guys do some good developing, and the team tanks its way to a top 5 pick in the draft.  They use that pick to get a player who may be relatively close to being an impact NBA player sooner rather than later.  Then Danny can use trade exceptions, expiring contracts, future picks, and some of the young guys they are developing to add some more veteran pieces around Rondo. 

Yes, I am looking at a half full glass.  It will be empty soon.  It is friday night.

[Vermont Green]

Boston doesn't "have to" trade Rondo or anyone else.  That is just sports hyperbole.  Boston will trade Rondo if they get a good deal for him which they may not, in which case, they won't.

I actually think there is a good chance that they trade Rondo and do get a good deal for him.  It would have to involve a good young player who would project to peak along with the rest of the core of young players (which Rondo would not).

Banking on young potentially unproven players is risky but hanging on to Rondo and having him walk for nothing in 2 years ins't a very good deal either.  That in essense is why I think they will trade him but I have faith that they won't feel they have to trade him and then accept a bad trade just to trade him.

[BballTim]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender.  By the time Boston is ready to compete again, Rondo will be on the wrong side of 30 and no longer young and improving.  And that is if Boston doesn't have any misses in the draft and ends up with at least solid value. 

  No offense, but I don't think anyone here has the slightest idea of what Boston's plans are going forward. Are they going to use all of their draft picks? Are they going to trade them? If so, for what? Also, the odds that the Celts buy into the "hang around at the bottom of the league until you land a superstar" mantra that so many here espouse are fairly low.

[green147]

I really don't think they'd trade Rondo. Ainge has talked about the "quick rebuild." He stockpiled picks which have gone up in value since the new CBA. It wouldn't be that difficult to make a big trade and keep both Rondo and Green. They have this next year to see if that's a viable possibility. If not and they need to go purely develop youngins, then they can trade him for something valuable, but otherwise he is our best player and will continue to lead the Celtics for the foreseeable future. 

You have to take nba analysts in the summer with a grain of salt. In attempts to garner some kind of attention, they like to exaggerate non-stories. 

[green147]

Also Tony Parker is one of the best PGs in the league, would've been the Finals MVP if it wasn't for Ray Allen, and in a lot of ways plays similar to Rondo. He's 31 and Rondo's 27. The age thing is blown out of proportion.

[D.o.s.]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender.  By the time Boston is ready to compete again, Rondo will be on the wrong side of 30 and no longer young and improving.  And that is if Boston doesn't have any misses in the draft and ends up with at least solid value. 

the odds that the Celts buy into the "hang around at the bottom of the league until you land a superstar" mantra that so many here espouse are fairly low.

"No offense, but I don't think anyone here has the slightest idea of what Boston's plans are going forward."

[bucknersrevenge]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender. 

Here's the thing that I think people are overlooking.  Rondo plays PG, which is currently the most loaded position in basketball.  Every year there are more good young PGs coming into the league. Rondo is going to be paid what the market bears, and unless he PLAYS like a max player over the next 2 years, he is not going to be paid like one.  PGs generally don't get overpaid like that.

And if he plays like a max player, Danny will gladly give him that contract, and use the assets he has been accumulating to try to put a winning team around him.

The other side of the coin is that he may be exposed a bit without KG and Pierce around, and coming off the injury, which might actually give Danny a chance to resign him at a relative bargain. 

Basically, I just think this idea that the C's have to trade Rondo to be bogus.  I think they have to EXPLORE it, but unless they can get either a better player, or multiple young guys with potential to be better, then you can't give up a guy with the talent and productivity of Rondo.

I think what Danny is looking at two scenarios that would make him happy right now.  One is someone falls in love with Rondo, and meets his high asking price.  Two is Rondo takes it slow coming back this year, the other young guys do some good developing, and the team tanks its way to a top 5 pick in the draft.  They use that pick to get a player who may be relatively close to being an impact NBA player sooner rather than later.  Then Danny can use trade exceptions, expiring contracts, future picks, and some of the young guys they are developing to add some more veteran pieces around Rondo. 

Yes, I am looking at a half full glass.  It will be empty soon.  It is friday night.

Agreed. And for this reason I can't imagine the rationale of paying ANY PG max money. Seems like a waste.

[BballTim]

Because Rondo's contract expires in a two years, he will demand max dollars, and Boston still won't be a contender.  By the time Boston is ready to compete again, Rondo will be on the wrong side of 30 and no longer young and improving.  And that is if Boston doesn't have any misses in the draft and ends up with at least solid value. 

the odds that the Celts buy into the "hang around at the bottom of the league until you land a superstar" mantra that so many here espouse are fairly low.

"No offense, but I don't think anyone here has the slightest idea of what Boston's plans are going forward."

   Sure, Boston's plans in general are nebulous. But I'd say the odds are reasonably good that they'll do something reasonably similar to what they've done in the past.

[celticmania]

Because he isn't going to be as effective without paul pierce and kg.....we have to trade him before he gets exposed for not being as good as people think he is.... He's overrated

[Stizz44]

If we get Wiggins, Parker, Randle, or Gordon do we still need to trade Rondo??

[BASS_THUMPER]

i kinda feel 1 or 32 people said bout rondo being "overrated"

we did have a win streak after he got hurt

but fam we cant get rid of All of the people who got us our first ring in years..


traded Scal and im finally over that
Kevin n Paul gone hurts but atleast they ballin together
Ray is a whole other nutha
Rondo stays..cause he does matter

[BballTim]

Because he isn't going to be as effective without paul pierce and kg.....we have to trade him before he gets exposed for not being as good as people think he is.... He's overrated

  Yes, he's clearly gotten *much* less effective as those two declined as players. I guess it will be just like how he was "exposed" when Ray left the lineup and he went on to have one of the longest double-digit assist streaks in nba history.