Chad Ford on Rondo

[Eddie20]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really. The point is that it really should have never occurred. Plus, chemistry issues doesn't have to do with just teammates. However, like someone above alluded to, I'm sure there are many incidents that been kept very quiet. And I'm fairly certain that his teammates were privately upset when he showed immaturity in bumping Marc Davis and getting suspended for a playoff game.

I truly hope he's matured since then, but if not, I would expect him to be jettisoned for a pretty good return. Don't think that behavior will be tolerated again especially with the investment we have in Stevens.

[tstorey_97]

Media gets to make a living on Rondo rumors. If Ainge moves him it won't be about clubhouse issues it will be for something he can't get now....a star.

Draft time most likely moment for Front page event..
"Rondo traded."

Too bad Ainge can't get him a "stah big" and a high scorin' wingah.

Meanwhile he'll get traded for everyone down to Willie Stargell and Maria Sharapova between now and July.

[D.o.s.]

Too bad Ainge can't get him a "stah big" and a high scorin' wingah.

Nothing more fun than phonetically typing the Boston/NE accent. TP

[crimson_stallion]

Call me crazy butI think I'm one of the few who doesn't believe Rondo will be traded - or at least I think it's highly unlikely.  I think there's a 70%+ chance that he remains a Celtic.

Why?

 Rondo is an All-Star and borderline Superstar.  The only way Dannywell tradehim is if either:

1. He thinks Rondo is donefrom the injury
2. He thinks he can get a current out future All-Star/Superstar back

That means the trade would have to bring back a Carmello / Wade calibre player, a clear cut future star (i.e. equivalent to Paul George last season) or a likely top 6 draft pick to go along with Boston's own (since a top 6 pick has a high chance of producing a future star of rondo's calibre).

Idon't see trans out there offering either of those things for a Rondo coming off a major injury, so I doubt he gets moved.Look how long it took Doc to bite on a KG/Pierce trade - it took a rediculously favourable deal for him to pull the trigger.

[BballTim]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really. The point is that it really should have never occurred. Plus, chemistry issues doesn't have to do with just teammates. However, like someone above alluded to, I'm sure there are many incidents that been kept very quiet. And I'm fairly certain that his teammates were privately upset when he showed immaturity in bumping Marc Davis and getting suspended for a playoff game.

I truly hope he's matured since then, but if not, I would expect him to be jettisoned for a pretty good return. Don't think that behavior will be tolerated again especially with the investment we have in Stevens.

  One would have to assume that teammates were more upset at Garnett for getting suspended from a playoff game in 2010 or PP for getting ejected from a playoff game in 2011 when they were older and supposedly more mature than Rondo. Were you expecting the Celts to jettison those guys at the time of those incidents? People examine Rondo under a microscope and in a vacuum. If you pay much attention to the league his transgressions seem relatively minor.

[Moranis]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really. The point is that it really should have never occurred. Plus, chemistry issues doesn't have to do with just teammates. However, like someone above alluded to, I'm sure there are many incidents that been kept very quiet. And I'm fairly certain that his teammates were privately upset when he showed immaturity in bumping Marc Davis and getting suspended for a playoff game.

I truly hope he's matured since then, but if not, I would expect him to be jettisoned for a pretty good return. Don't think that behavior will be tolerated again especially with the investment we have in Stevens.

  One would have to assume that teammates were more upset at Garnett for getting suspended from a playoff game in 2010 or PP for getting ejected from a playoff game in 2011 when they were older and supposedly more mature than Rondo. Were you expecting the Celts to jettison those guys at the time of those incidents? People examine Rondo under a microscope and in a vacuum. If you pay much attention to the league his transgressions seem relatively minor.

Rondo has chemistry issues because he has an attitude problem and he always has.

[BballTim]

I think the only people that Rondo has "chemistry issues" with are members of the sports media.

Ray Allen comes to mind.

There have been other reports of him rubbing teammates the wrong way. In the 2009-2010 season he was frustrated feeding the ball to Paul/Kevin as they were working back from injury and that caused some friction as well.

Rondo's not JR Smith or anything like that, but he's not Eddie House either.

  Ray had a problem with Rondo. And Avery. And Doc. And KG. And PP. And I'm sure that plenty of things that happen get Rondo a little frustrated, but from everything I saw and heard there was little to no friction or chemistry issues between KG and Rondo, in fact I'd say they had exceptional chemistry. 

[BballTim]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really. The point is that it really should have never occurred. Plus, chemistry issues doesn't have to do with just teammates. However, like someone above alluded to, I'm sure there are many incidents that been kept very quiet. And I'm fairly certain that his teammates were privately upset when he showed immaturity in bumping Marc Davis and getting suspended for a playoff game.

I truly hope he's matured since then, but if not, I would expect him to be jettisoned for a pretty good return. Don't think that behavior will be tolerated again especially with the investment we have in Stevens.

  One would have to assume that teammates were more upset at Garnett for getting suspended from a playoff game in 2010 or PP for getting ejected from a playoff game in 2011 when they were older and supposedly more mature than Rondo. Were you expecting the Celts to jettison those guys at the time of those incidents? People examine Rondo under a microscope and in a vacuum. If you pay much attention to the league his transgressions seem relatively minor.

Rondo has chemistry issues because he has an attitude problem and he always has.

  If you say so. Almost everything the team or the other players say about him is the opposite of that, don't let that get in the way of your theory though. I'm somehow reminded of all of the claims that Rondo was almost universally disliked around the league and none of the other players would want to play with him. That seems to have been much ado about nothing. It was a pretty good indication about how plugged into the thoughts of the players people are.

[Eddie20]

I think the only people that Rondo has "chemistry issues" with are members of the sports media.

Ray Allen comes to mind.

There have been other reports of him rubbing teammates the wrong way. In the 2009-2010 season he was frustrated feeding the ball to Paul/Kevin as they were working back from injury and that caused some friction as well.

Rondo's not JR Smith or anything like that, but he's not Eddie House either.

  Ray had a problem with Rondo. And Avery. And Doc. And KG. And PP. And I'm sure that plenty of things that happen get Rondo a little frustrated, but from everything I saw and heard there was little to no friction or chemistry issues between KG and Rondo, in fact I'd say they had exceptional chemistry.

Well....

As the wheels rolled back and the team jet lifted out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the season’s most humiliating loss dangled like an anvil inside the Boston Celtics’ charter flight. Kevin Garnett was still out, the playoffs were 10 days away and Rajon Rondo directed his teammates to gather in the back of the cabin.

“Go ahead,” Doc Rivers warned his players, “but it will be an awful meeting.”

Rondo appeared to want his teammates to air out complaints in the early evening of April 14, but it rapidly deteriorated into a grievance session that had the uncomfortable vibe of the young guys against the Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. For some Celtics, there was a sense that Rondo had prodded the younger teammates to speak out on the tough-love tactics of the vets.

Rondo never vented, but one teammate who had challenged K.G. later confessed privately that he wished he had never spoken up, that he didn’t even believe the whiny words tumbling out of his mouth. Rondo insists he had the best of intentions, and yet there’s no mistaking the fact the meeting served to widen a gulf between him and his older teammates.

And how can you possible compare Rondo bumping a ref, to KG (who was defending Pierce), and Pierce (who picked up a second T for something he said to Wade)? Apples and oranges.

[Eddie20]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really. The point is that it really should have never occurred. Plus, chemistry issues doesn't have to do with just teammates. However, like someone above alluded to, I'm sure there are many incidents that been kept very quiet. And I'm fairly certain that his teammates were privately upset when he showed immaturity in bumping Marc Davis and getting suspended for a playoff game.

I truly hope he's matured since then, but if not, I would expect him to be jettisoned for a pretty good return. Don't think that behavior will be tolerated again especially with the investment we have in Stevens.

  One would have to assume that teammates were more upset at Garnett for getting suspended from a playoff game in 2010 or PP for getting ejected from a playoff game in 2011 when they were older and supposedly more mature than Rondo. Were you expecting the Celts to jettison those guys at the time of those incidents? People examine Rondo under a microscope and in a vacuum. If you pay much attention to the league his transgressions seem relatively minor.

Rondo has chemistry issues because he has an attitude problem and he always has.

  If you say so. Almost everything the team or the other players say about him is the opposite of that, don't let that get in the way of your theory though. I'm somehow reminded of all of the claims that Rondo was almost universally disliked around the league and none of the other players would want to play with him. That seems to have been much ado about nothing. It was a pretty good indication about how plugged into the thoughts of the players people are.

Tim, Doc himself told Rondo that none of teammates like playing with him. Albeit that was in his first or second year, but that was admittedly said by Doc.

KG interview:

Who’s the smartest player on this team? Because Doc gave us an answer immediately.

KG-Rajon Rondo.

That’s what he said. He said he was the smartest player in the league.

KG- Very much so. The most stubborn, the most probably hated.

You might have part of that on him.

KG- No, no. I’ve grown to understand Shorty. His greatest gift is his greatest curse. We as players try to help him to understand that. Me, more or less, I see a lot of myself in him. I’m not as cocky as he is. I like to actually set aside ego when I step on the court and let the play do the talking.

[BballTim]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really.

  Whether he threw something at Doc or at a monitor is just semantics? Really?

[ssspence]

Ford has been beating that drum for a while.  I'll believe it when I see it though.

Very true. It's Ford's standard as it pertains to the Cs. Just like this forum's standard for Rondo is outrage to any suggestion of deficiencies in his game, or moodiness is his relationships on and off the court. No news here.

What is interesting is the tidbid about 'multiple assets'. I take this to mean that Ford expects the Cs to potentially relent on getting a player in his prime for Rondo, and make a more asset driven deal (young players, picks, etc).

It fuels my belief that the team is going to basically dump Green and Bass for whatever they can get at the trading deadline.  I'm more dubious on the topic for Rondo -- I think he's more likely to be traded this summer. 

[Eddie20]

Very interesting.

The Celtics? Rajon Rondo could be that building block. But he turns 28 in February, has posed chemistry issues in the past and there is an increasing belief among NBA circles that GM Danny Ainge will use him, once healthy, to get multiple assets back. So the chances that he's the Celtics' cornerstone moving forward look slim.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10285177/tank-rank-luol-deng-trade-shakes-landscape

I'll believe when I see it. And his "chemistry issues" is only with Ray Allen. I don't see complaints from KG and PP, and they both acknowledge Rondo has a capable leader!

I say it's 50/50 he's traded.  If he comes back Friday, we'll have 16 games to showcase him... if he looks super healthy and good, I expect Ainge will get offers and I expect Ainge will consider the offers.  If he looks terrible, we probably shut him down until next year and start the cycle over in Rondo's contract year.

No guarantee he's traded... but it's a distinct possibility.

As for the "chemistry" issues stuff... we've been hearing it for a while.  Smoke/Fire.  I suspect most of the locker-room stuff is kept in house.  It usually only trickles out after a player leaves.  We didn't hear about the Ray/Rondo beef until after Ray had packed his bags...

  Rondo gets upset at times but there really hasn't been any talk of chemistry issues (other than Ray) for I would guess a number of years. Everything you hear about him from anyone associated with the team is generally positive, and they weren't shy about calling him out in the past. Also, take a look at what Doc and the players said about Ray after he left. I'll bet you can't find anything remotely resembling that about Rondo from those same guys (who aren't with the team anymore).

There was also the water bottle incident where he threw a water bottle at Doc and stormed out of the team meeting.

  He threw a bottle at a monitor, not at Doc. He's also had a few incidents involving referees. None of that means he's having chemistry issues with his teammates.

At Doc, or in Doc's vicinity is semantics, really.

  Whether he threw something at Doc or at a monitor is just semantics? Really?

Yes, semantics. Why? Because regardless of his intentions it angered Doc to the point of both having to be restrained so they wouldn't come to blows. Either it was thrown at Doc or Doc really loved his video monitor a lot.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Ford has been beating that drum for a while.  I'll believe it when I see it though.

agreed. I think we build around rondo and sully. I guess we will see soon enough.

[BballTim]

Ford has been beating that drum for a while.  I'll believe it when I see it though.

Very true. It's Ford's standard as it pertains to the Cs. Just like this forum's standard for Rondo is outrage to any suggestion of deficiencies in his game, or moodiness is his relationships on and off the court. No news here.

  I don't think that people disagreeing with some of your claims really falls into the category of "outrage".