Don't expect 2 first round picks for Rondo. He's not a top 5 PG. He's not even a top 20 PG.
1. Paul
2. Wall
3. Curry
4. Bledsoe
5. Westbrook
6. Irving
7. Lilliard
8. Lowry
9. Parker
10. D. Williams
11. Teague
12. K. Walker
13. Lawson
14. B. Jennings
15. Holiday
16. Conley
17. B. Knight
18. MCW
19. Nelson
20. I. Thomas
21. Rondo
hahaha that's hilarious
The following players on this list are clearly better than Rondo:
* Paul
The following are players who are 'on par' with Rondo (i.e. you could argue better or worse):
* Wall
* Curry
* Westbrook
* Irving
* Parker
* D. Williams
* D Rose (when healthy)
The following are all clearly below Rondo:
* Bledsoe
* Lilliard
* Lowry
* Teague
* K. Walker
* Lawson
* B. Jennings
* Holiday
* Conley
* B. Knight
* MCW
* Nelson
* I. Thomas
That puts Rondo anywhere between top 2 and top 9, depending on your viewpoint.
To declare Jameer Nelson above Rajon Rondo is one of the funniest things I've heard...ever.
This is almost as insane as Rondo being the 21st best PG in the league. You made me laugh out loud when you said Lillard is below Rondo and he's on the same level as Curry etc...just stop it. This is the type of homerism that is very popular in Boston. Just like Knick fans believe they can get anyone for pennies on the dollar because everyone is dying to play for a franchise that's been around 80 years and has less titles than the Miami Heat.
Lillard is a great young player, and maybe someday he will, indeed be a better PG than Rondo. But no, no he is not right now.
Through direct scoring and assists, Lillard is creating about 33.4 points per game (which also happens to be his per-36 rate since he is playing 36 mpg). He grabs about 3.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals per 36. He also commits 2.5 PFs per 36.
Even with relatively subdued numbers in the 10 games he's back from rehab, still a little slow of foot, Rondo has better Per-36 numbers in ALL those categories. Rondo has been creating points at a rate of 34 per-36. He's also grabbed 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and committed just 1.1 PF per 36.
Sure, Rondo's per-game numbers are a bit less, because he's only averaged 27.2 mpg so far. But that's certain to change over time.
Rondo's also likely to increase his point-creation rates. In recent years he's usually been up close to 40 points-created per-36. I see no reason not to expect him to return to that level. That literally puts Rondo as far ahead of Lillard in point-creation as Chris Paul is over RR & Westbrook (i.e., crimson_stallions' tiers are pretty reasonable).
Lillard also is more reliant on his own shooting, at a low 43% FG% rate to maintain his scoring. Yes, he is taking efficient 3PT shots so his eFG% is a solid .513. But it also means he is generating a lot of misses - 9 missed shots per game. On average, 6-7 of those will be grabbed by the defense.
Rondo, comparatively, has a solid career eFG% of .489 (.497 last year) on 48% shooting. He averages only about 5 missed shots per game. On average, about 3.5 of those will be grabbed by the defense.
Lillard has a long way to go in improving his game to get to Rondo's level. He may get there. He may not.
You are abrasively dismissive of others being blinded by 'homerism', yet these numbers are not fans of any team.
I think you might be suffering from your own extreme biases.