Just doesn't add up that Rondo is coming back now

[winsomme]

Chris you make some interesting points. But this can't be all about Rondo's happyness.  Right now it looks like, Rondo is going to be back, he is going to be back, and lets see what happens.

There is no agenda (though you would think , its lets win). When you get a player back, especially someone like Rondo, you are not playing them to mainly warm them up. The goal is to warm them up to win. isn't that right? 

But if this is not the plan, then this thread wouldn't exist. I would understand the main goal is to warm up Rondo, then trade the other assets, and sit him down for the rest of the year. But it is very unclear instead. 

In addition Danny interested in Asik a month earlier,  makes things even foggier.

You are overthinking this.  Rondo is playing because he is healthy.  Danny makes deals that make sense. 

Danny was interested in Asik, because he saw an opportunity to trade for a good player who fit a need for the team in the long and short term, for a bargain price (two repetitive talents and a non-prime draft pick). 

You are too focussed on plans.  Danny isn't forming elaborate schemes, he is making moves based on what it in the best interest of the team.  He knows that he can't have a narrow view of a "plan", because that limits the chance of success.  But, if he makes every move with the thought of how it can help the team get better going forward, then he puts them in a good position.

All of the moves help the team for the future.  That includes Rondo coming back when he is healthy.

But I also think you are under-thinking this. Danny certainly recognizes the value of a top 5 pick in this draft and also recognizes that Rondo coming back at this point makes the chances of getting that pick less likely.

The questions is what is he going to do about it...if anything?

No, I am completely taking that into consideration.  But I don't think Danny is THAT concerned.  I think his goal is to develop players and maximize assets, while putting as good a product on the court as he can within those perameters.

Danny knows that getting a top 5 pick would be great.  But that isn't even guaranteed by tanking.  They have already won too much to really compete with the real bottom dwellers to be guaranteed a top 5 pick.  So, it comes down to the lottery.  And it is not worth risking the relationship with Rondo (and his agent) to antagonize him right now. 

Danny takes everything into consideration, but I just don't think its all a grand plan and conspiracy.  He weighs his options and goes with the ones that give him the most flexibility and upside.  And bringing Rondo back now, while continuing to move forward on the other moves he has been trying to make all year does that.

It keeps Rondo happy.  Gives them a look at him before the deadline while also showcasing him a bit.

I think maybe we are talking about different things. I agree that Danny doesn't want to rock the Rondo cart right now, but he simultaneously certainly realizes that his next best asset is his 2014 first round pick.

So how does he serve two masters? That's the question. And the answer is that it is a nearly impossible task. That's why I made my other post about just how difficult this rebuild is.

The situation you describe makes it sound like Danny is just steering a ship, but I think he has much bigger tasks at hand. He needs to steer this ship but simultaneously making plans to jump to a whole new ship at the same time...because there is another ship that we could be on.

But how does he make that decision? I don't think it is just a matter of seeing how things play out. I don't think that is Danny's style. He is IMO an equation changer, so I'm kinda expecting that here given what is possible for the franchise.

and I definitely do not agree that a top 5 is an unrealistic option given our current win total.

[LooseCannon]

But how does he make that decision? I don't think it is just a matter of seeing how things play out. I don't think that is Danny's style. He is IMO an equation changer, so I'm kinda expecting that here given what is possible for the franchise.

We must be seeing two different Ainge's, because I think it is entirely his style to wait and see and avoid committing himself until it is absolutely necessary.  He held off on breaking up the team as long as he could and I am convinced that if Rondo was projected to be 100% before the season started, that Ainge would have explored adding someone like Paul Millsap instead of trading Garnett and Pierce.

[Jailan34]

I think maybe we are talking about different things. I agree that Danny doesn't want to rock the Rondo cart right now, but he simultaneously certainly realizes that his next best asset is his 2014 first round pick.

Many would argue, myself included, that a top five pick in this draft is more valuable than RR in any trade.

If I was another team say Orlando, and the Celtic's offered me Rondo for my top 5 pick I would hang up.

Rondo has a lot more value to us as a leader than he does in a trade. Of course Rondo's value as a leader means very little unless we have our next star player on the roster, which we currently do not.

[BballTim]

I'm with winsomme on this one

Forget Danny, Rondo for a sec. The end goal to all of this madness is to be able to contend and win another championship. 

Rondo + today's team with or without Bass, Green, Hump is not going to win you anything but 7th or 8th place in the playoffs.

You need at least one more key talent though its looking more and more like you need 3.

Its very difficult to orchastrate a trade to bring in a big name talent in the league. Especially if those teams are doing well. Its also difficult to entice FA's to come play for you and also committ large amounts of dollars to them.

Danny has a perfect way out and that is to draft a top pick or two this upcoming draft. Unlike past year drafts where there might be only 3 top players and the rest , there are alot more quality players.  So good in fact, 2 of them plus Rondo could get us into the playoffs as early as next season.

2014 draft vs Rondo. If i had to choose one, some won't like to hear this, but i'm choosing the draft and having a chance to draft high. This doesn't mean we quit playing, but Danny can help the tank

It's just business.  It's nothing against Rondo.  You just illustrated why I keep banging the "trading ROndo makes sense" drum.

I do not believe you could trade Rondo for a Top 5 pick in this draft.

In essence, a Top 5 pick in this draft has far more trade value than Rajon Rondo.  Does anyone disagree?... and if you disagree, I think Boston should promptly trade Rondo for Wiggins/Parker/Embiid/Randle/Exum at the soonest possible opportunity.

Say you're with me on my statement that Rondo has less trade value than the Top 5 pick.  Good... let's move on from that perspective:


Since I've come to that conclusion... that Rondo has less trade value than a Top 5 pick, it just makes sense to trade Rondo.  Trading ROndo will get you several assets... you'll end up getting a Top 5 pick by bottoming out.   Even if you don't intend to keep the Top 5 pick, we've established at this point that the Top 5 pick will have MORE trade value than Rajon Rondo.  It's perfectly reasonable to assume we could trade that Top 5 pick for a player BETTER than Rondo.  The end result would be a player BETTER than Rondo + the boatload of assets you acquired by trading Rondo. 

Perhaps my premise is off and Rondo is worth more than a Top 5 pick in the 2014 draft, but I sincerely doubt it. 

Rondo = X
Assets = Y
Top 5 Pick = Z

X = Y

Z > X

Clearly Z + Y is significantly greater than X

  It's important to note that you have no idea whatsoever whether Rondo's seen as more or less valuable than a top 5 pick in the draft. If Rondo gets traded for such a pick you'll be proven wrong. Otherwise this is no different than the plethora of other things the majority of the people here were strongly in agreement of but completely wrong about.

[Evantime34]

[/quote]

  It's important to note that you have no idea whatsoever whether Rondo's seen as more or less valuable than a top 5 pick in the draft. If Rondo gets traded for such a pick you'll be proven wrong. Otherwise this is no different than the plethora of other things the majority of the people here were strongly in agreement of but completely wrong about.
[/quote]

ALL OF THE TPS IN THE WORLD!

Got to love when people state their opinions as fact and leave no room for argument (This is not directed at anyone but a general statement I agree with after reading the most recent post in this thread).

As to the whether Rondo is worth a top five pick, I would say yes but only for some teams.

For example the Magic are stocked with good young players, but could use a veteran leader to take them to the next level (this is more if they are at the 4/5 spot than the 1-3 spots). The Kings are trying to make it into the playoffs now rather than continue to rebuild so I think they would make that deal. The Lakers might consider it because Kobe loves Rondo and he could help attract big name players when they have cap room. Those are the three teams I could see making that deal, all the rest are at the early stages of a rebuild so they are just accumulating assets or are set at the point guard position. (Charlotte could be added to the list depending on your feelings about Kemba).

[Fafnir]

  It's important to note that you have no idea whatsoever whether Rondo's seen as more or less valuable than a top 5 pick in the draft. If Rondo gets traded for such a pick you'll be proven wrong. Otherwise this is no different than the plethora of other things the majority of the people here were strongly in agreement of but completely wrong about.

ALL OF THE TPS IN THE WORLD!

Got to love when people state their opinions as fact and leave no room for argument (This is not directed at anyone but a general statement I agree with after reading the most recent post in this thread).

I get that frustration on one level. Its annoying when you're talking with someone who's convinced they have received a revelation from God on the immutable truth of player X's value or how well player X is on defense and so on.

But I also don't think its particular useful literary or rhetorical technique to say or type "In my opinion..." or "I think..." before every single statement that is subjective. Its redundant and clunky assuming you're arguing in good faith and not trolling or baiting.

[D.o.s.]

I think you could safely say that none of the teams currently in the mix for a Top 5 pick would trade that Top 5 pick for Rondo.

[winsomme]

  It's important to note that you have no idea whatsoever whether Rondo's seen as more or less valuable than a top 5 pick in the draft. If Rondo gets traded for such a pick you'll be proven wrong. Otherwise this is no different than the plethora of other things the majority of the people here were strongly in agreement of but completely wrong about.
[/quote]

ALL OF THE TPS IN THE WORLD!

Got to love when people state their opinions as fact and leave no room for argument (This is not directed at anyone but a general statement I agree with after reading the most recent post in this thread).

As to the whether Rondo is worth a top five pick, I would say yes but only for some teams.

For example the Magic are stocked with good young players, but could use a veteran leader to take them to the next level (this is more if they are at the 4/5 spot than the 1-3 spots). The Kings are trying to make it into the playoffs now rather than continue to rebuild so I think they would make that deal. The Lakers might consider it because Kobe loves Rondo and he could help attract big name players when they have cap room. Those are the three teams I could see making that deal, all the rest are at the early stages of a rebuild so they are just accumulating assets or are set at the point guard position. (Charlotte could be added to the list depending on your feelings about Kemba).
[/quote]

To be fair, the poster Bball was responding to said "I do believe..." So they were stating their opinion.

And as much as love Rondo, I do also doubt that a team after the season and lottery would trade a top 5 pick for Rondo is remote. It's just too tantalizing, especially in a draft like this one...Is Wiggins gonna be a better pro than Rondo? I really don't know, but I don't think a team would give up on that possibility if confronted with the decision.

For the Cs, I'm hoping that is not the choice. I'm hoping Danny can figure out how to have both: Rondo and a top 5 pick.... It's gotta be his goal given how close we are to having both.

[guava_wrench]

I think you could safely say that none of the teams currently in the mix for a Top 5 pick would trade that Top 5 pick for Rondo.

As Mark Cuban likes to say, picks are overvalued in the NBA.

I the Knicks could choose between getting Rondo, or getting Milwaukee's unprotected first rounder this season, they very well could take Rondo.

[D.o.s.]

I think you could safely say that none of the teams currently in the mix for a Top 5 pick would trade that Top 5 pick for Rondo.

As Mark Cuban likes to say, picks are overvalued in the NBA.

I the Knicks could choose between getting Rondo, or getting Milwaukee's unprotected first rounder this season, they very well could take Rondo.

That's because Cuban has historically been a huge and willing spender in free agency--and even he's decided to hoard his draft picks and dismantle his title-winning team to avoid the reprecussions of the new CBA.

I think the Knicks would rather take Rondo, but A) they're not going to have any draft picks this year any way and B) mostly because James Dolan is an idiot who actively discourages front office competency.

[winsomme]

But how does he make that decision? I don't think it is just a matter of seeing how things play out. I don't think that is Danny's style. He is IMO an equation changer, so I'm kinda expecting that here given what is possible for the franchise.

We must be seeing two different Ainge's, because I think it is entirely his style to wait and see and avoid committing himself until it is absolutely necessary.  He held off on breaking up the team as long as he could and I am convinced that if Rondo was projected to be 100% before the season started, that Ainge would have explored adding someone like Paul Millsap instead of trading Garnett and Pierce.

But that point is right when the radical shift came. I mean we were here still debating "one more year" while Danny said "Doc is coming back" and then the sky fell and they all were gone....

I don't know what the heck he is gonna do, but I do think anything successful will be a ridiculously difficult feat....because right now we IMO don't have the assets to get us back to contender any time soon...

[BballTim]

But how does he make that decision? I don't think it is just a matter of seeing how things play out. I don't think that is Danny's style. He is IMO an equation changer, so I'm kinda expecting that here given what is possible for the franchise.

We must be seeing two different Ainge's, because I think it is entirely his style to wait and see and avoid committing himself until it is absolutely necessary.  He held off on breaking up the team as long as he could and I am convinced that if Rondo was projected to be 100% before the season started, that Ainge would have explored adding someone like Paul Millsap instead of trading Garnett and Pierce.

But that point is right when the radical shift came. I mean we were here still debating "one more year" while Danny said "Doc is coming back" and then the sky fell and they all were gone....

I don't know what the heck he is gonna do, but I do think anything successful will be a ridiculously difficult feat....because right now we IMO don't have the assets to get us back to contender any time soon...

  I still don't see a reasonable argument that we don't have better assets now than we did in 2007.

[BballTim]

I think you could safely say that none of the teams currently in the mix for a Top 5 pick would trade that Top 5 pick for Rondo.

  Every team in the lottery's currently in the mix for a top 5 pick.

[Tr1boy]

I think you could safely say that none of the teams currently in the mix for a Top 5 pick would trade that Top 5 pick for Rondo.

As Mark Cuban likes to say, picks are overvalued in the NBA.

I the Knicks could choose between getting Rondo, or getting Milwaukee's unprotected first rounder this season, they very well could take Rondo.

this upcoming years draft is different. its been said thousand times over

[D.o.s.]

But how does he make that decision? I don't think it is just a matter of seeing how things play out. I don't think that is Danny's style. He is IMO an equation changer, so I'm kinda expecting that here given what is possible for the franchise.

We must be seeing two different Ainge's, because I think it is entirely his style to wait and see and avoid committing himself until it is absolutely necessary.  He held off on breaking up the team as long as he could and I am convinced that if Rondo was projected to be 100% before the season started, that Ainge would have explored adding someone like Paul Millsap instead of trading Garnett and Pierce.

But that point is right when the radical shift came. I mean we were here still debating "one more year" while Danny said "Doc is coming back" and then the sky fell and they all were gone....

I don't know what the heck he is gonna do, but I do think anything successful will be a ridiculously difficult feat....because right now we IMO don't have the assets to get us back to contender any time soon...

  I still don't see a reasonable argument that we don't have better assets now than we did in 2007.

You know who would be the best person to ask about that? Kevin McHale or Steve Kerr, since they're both former GM's relatively unencumbered by franchise obligations of that sort--Kerr more than McHale, obviously.

Anyone got a twitter? Someone should ask Mr Steve.

I think you could safely say that none of the teams currently in the mix for a Top 5 pick would trade that Top 5 pick for Rondo.

  Every team in the lottery's currently in the mix for a top 5 pick.

Right, but that's to the letter of my post, not the spirit. I don't believe that the teams expected to finish in the bottom five of the league would trade their first rounder for Rondo.