Rondo signing an extension this off-season?

[Boris Badenov]

It makes very little sense for Rondo to do this.

Rondo's value can't be terribly high right now.  If he signed an extension at this point, it's likely he'd be signing at below market value. 

Also, there's the matter of Rondo's age and where the Celtics are at right now.  Barring a Garnett + Allen style flurry of moves, the Celtics are at least a couple years away from having the pieces to be truly competitive.  Rondo will likely be in his 30s before the Celtics are ready to make a run in the playoffs.

I think for Rondo it makes sense to wait things out.  He can come back (hopefully) fully healthy next season.  He can try and have the best (statistical) season of his career.  He'll have leverage to pressure the Celtics to either make moves to put some talented, experienced pieces around him, or else trade him to a team with whom he is interested in signing long term.


There are only two reasons that come to mind for Rondo to sign an extension this summer, and neither seem characteristic of him:

One - he's worried that he might get injured again or that his value will only diminish moving forward. 

Two - he really wants to stay in Boston regardless of the situation and he wants to give the team a home-town discount.

Or:

Three:  He would welcome the peace of mind that came with signing an extension this off-season.  I can't imagine he would relish going into next season, and the media fire storm that would surround him,  if he were approaching unrestricted free agency. 

Isn't it possible that signing an extension would give him less peace of mind?

Right now Rondo is difficult to trade in part because of his threat not to re-sign (e.g., with Sacramento).

If he signs an extension we can ship him out much more easily.

If I'm Rondo, I don't want to surrender that leverage, and I'd actually be more worried about getting trade after signing.

[LarBrd33]

sign him to an extension ASAP... then trade him to whoever you want.  Rondo to the Kings for Ben Mclemore and #7... don't want to play in Sac, Rondo?... Too bad.

I'm kidding, of course.  That wouldn't happen. 

[Celtics18]

I was under the impression that if Rondo re-signed this summer that he would be eligible to receive a no-trade clause in his contract. 

According to this article by Forsberg, that's the case:

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/10340941/a-rajon-rondo-contract-extension-boston-celtics-makes-sense-eventually

[Celtics18]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the new CBA encourage star players to wait until their contract is actually up in order to receive the highest possible extension offer? Which means that the NBA's desire to limit contract length is in conflict with their other desire to lock in stars to their original teams. Or maybe it was the same way in the last CBA as well?

You're right. It literally makes no sense for a player to sign an extension under the new CBA unless they're trying to lock up a new contract as soon as possible for stability. That's why I voted for "almost zero"

Sure, but getting that stability might make sense from Rondo's perspective.  I think most would agree that there's a very real possibility that nobody will offer Rondo close to the $100 million contract that the CBA would allow him to make should hit the 2015 free agency market. 

I would think that Rondo himself is aware that this possibility exists.  It might, then, make sense for him (particularly if he can get a no-trade clause from Danny) to re-up with the Celtics for the next three years, make a cool $45 mill., and just have to focus on playing basketball starting at the beginning of the 2014-2015 season.

[PhoSita]

If I'm Rondo, I don't want to surrender that leverage, and I'd actually be more worried about getting trade after signing.

Yeah, I agree with this.  Not signing gives Rondo a lot of leverage over the next year.  He either forces the Celtics to make moves to put pieces around him, or he forces them to trade him to a situation he likes.

[Celtics18]

If I'm Rondo, I don't want to surrender that leverage, and I'd actually be more worried about getting trade after signing.

Yeah, I agree with this.  Not signing gives Rondo a lot of leverage over the next year.  He either forces the Celtics to make moves to put pieces around him, or he forces them to trade him to a situation he likes.

That leverage will only go so far.  Plus, maybe Rondo actually likes the situation that he's in with the Boston Celtics. 

[saltlover]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the new CBA encourage star players to wait until their contract is actually up in order to receive the highest possible extension offer? Which means that the NBA's desire to limit contract length is in conflict with their other desire to lock in stars to their original teams. Or maybe it was the same way in the last CBA as well?

You're right. It literally makes no sense for a player to sign an extension under the new CBA unless they're trying to lock up a new contract as soon as possible for stability. That's why I voted for "almost zero"

Sure, but getting that stability might make sense from Rondo's perspective.  I think most would agree that there's a very real possibility that nobody will offer Rondo close to the $100 million contract that the CBA would allow him to make should hit the 2015 free agency market. 

I would think that Rondo himself is aware that this possibility exists.  It might, then, make sense for him (particularly if he can get a no-trade clause from Danny) to re-up with the Celtics for the next three years, make a cool $45 mill., and just have to focus on playing basketball starting at the beginning of the 2014-2015 season.

But do you take $45 million a year earlier because you think no one will offer you $80 million?  That's a pretty big gap.  Rondo may like peace of mind, but he's also very competitive, and probably wants to get paid top dollar, or at least see what top dollar is.

As I said earlier, if the increase in salary cap creates room to increase Rondo's 2014-2015 salary, and then base a new extension off of that, I think something can get done.  But I think Rondo's floor in the summer of 2015 is probably 4 years, $60 million.  No reason for him to not see what's out there.  And there's no reason for Ainge to trade him to be safe.  This isn't his first time having a free agent see what's out there.

[D.o.s.]

I was under the impression that if Rondo re-signed this summer that he would be eligible to receive a no-trade clause in his contract. 

According to this article by Forsberg, that's the case:

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/10340941/a-rajon-rondo-contract-extension-boston-celtics-makes-sense-eventually

He's wrong, even though he cites Larry Coon FAQ (the same source I'm about to use).

1    A no-trade clause cannot be negotiated into an extension, unless player's existing contract or extension already contained a no-trade clause.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q99
 

[Vermont Green]

If Rondo is worried about being traded or having to relocate as a FA, I think he is more likely to be traded if he doesn't extend (and sure to relocate if he doesn't resign with Celtics).  There is also no guarantee he will get a no-trade if he resigns as a FA so he still might get traded.

I think the constrained extension would result in him not being traded as DA would know that he had a few years to work with.  Draft some players, make some trades, and see what we can do with Rondo is a good Plan A.  Waiting and hoping he resigns is not a good plan in my opinion.  Extending him just to trade him also doesn't seem to make sense to me.

[Celtics18]

Well, maybe you guys are right, and Rondo's days as a Celtic are numbered.  On the other hand, I've been reading convincing arguments for the last five or six years at almost every deadline that Rondo is a sure fire goner.  Yet, he's still our point guard. 

I don't get the impression that Ainge or ownership are as eager to get rid of our point guard as many fans on this blog seem to be.  I think he would love nothing more than to find an agreement that keeps him as our point guard during the rebuild and beyond.

We'll see if they can make it happen. 

[RRNoLookPass]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the new CBA encourage star players to wait until their contract is actually up in order to receive the highest possible extension offer? Which means that the NBA's desire to limit contract length is in conflict with their other desire to lock in stars to their original teams. Or maybe it was the same way in the last CBA as well?

You're right. It literally makes no sense for a player to sign an extension under the new CBA unless they're trying to lock up a new contract as soon as possible for stability. That's why I voted for "almost zero"

I was waiting for someone to say that. When I began reading through this thread, I was really surprised that nobody mentioned this until the second page (unless I missed it). Not only would signing an extension this summer limit Rondo's potential contract offer financially by quite a bit, but it would also limit the potential length of his contract offer as well.
Not to mention the fact that Rondo already said he was "intrigued" by free agency earlier this season. I just think that means he might be curious to see what offers come his way in free agency. That doesn't specifically mean he is looking to leave Boston, as he also said that he wouldn't mind staying in Boston for another ten yrs. Rondo seems to love Boston, and he recently acknowledged how much he appreciates the loyalty of the fan base here as well.  He probably just wants to make his next contract as long as possible, especially if he stays in Boston.

[CoachBo]

Well, maybe you guys are right, and Rondo's days as a Celtic are numbered.  On the other hand, I've been reading convincing arguments for the last five or six years at almost every deadline that Rondo is a sure fire goner.  Yet, he's still our point guard. 

I don't get the impression that Ainge or ownership are as eager to get rid of our point guard as many fans on this blog seem to be.  I think he would love nothing more than to find an agreement that keeps him as our point guard during the rebuild and beyond.

We'll see if they can make it happen.

If he's willing to accept value and sign this summer, by all means resign him.

I rather doubt, though, that Ainge is going to rely - as some here seem more than ready to do - on Rondo returning the unrequited love of the fans by playing next year and then resigning anyway.

If Danny is, then I have clearly overrated his intelligence.

[Celtics18]

Well, maybe you guys are right, and Rondo's days as a Celtic are numbered.  On the other hand, I've been reading convincing arguments for the last five or six years at almost every deadline that Rondo is a sure fire goner.  Yet, he's still our point guard. 

I don't get the impression that Ainge or ownership are as eager to get rid of our point guard as many fans on this blog seem to be.  I think he would love nothing more than to find an agreement that keeps him as our point guard during the rebuild and beyond.

We'll see if they can make it happen.

If he's willing to accept value and sign this summer, by all means resign him.

We are in agreement. 

[D.o.s.]

Well, maybe you guys are right, and Rondo's days as a Celtic are numbered.  On the other hand, I've been reading convincing arguments for the last five or six years at almost every deadline that Rondo is a sure fire goner.  Yet, he's still our point guard. 

I don't get the impression that Ainge or ownership are as eager to get rid of our point guard as many fans on this blog seem to be.  I think he would love nothing more than to find an agreement that keeps him as our point guard during the rebuild and beyond.

We'll see if they can make it happen.

We're just pointing out that he's probably not going to sign an extension -- the Celtics can still offer him more money than any other franchise, he just has to hit free agency first.

[LilRip]

Well, maybe you guys are right, and Rondo's days as a Celtic are numbered.  On the other hand, I've been reading convincing arguments for the last five or six years at almost every deadline that Rondo is a sure fire goner.  Yet, he's still our point guard. 

I don't get the impression that Ainge or ownership are as eager to get rid of our point guard as many fans on this blog seem to be.  I think he would love nothing more than to find an agreement that keeps him as our point guard during the rebuild and beyond.

We'll see if they can make it happen. 

i don't think his days are necessarily numbered. However, I do think that he won't sign an extension either and so I voted for "nearly 0". Those two things aren't mutually exclusive.

Rondo has so much more to gain in waiting it out. For one, he can play himself into a better contract, because goodness knows his current play doesn't deserve 15/yr. Also, he currently has trade leverage (which practically works as a pseudo-no-trade clause). No one will give up their precious assets for a 1-year rental. Would you trade Oly+Sully+2 unprotected first round picks for one year of Durant, even with Durant going to the media and saying he will not resign with the C's? You wouldn't. Ainge didn't (as seen from the KG deal originally falling out). Lastly, he can better gauge what his market value is (which might drive up his price) and also, what his options are - if he finds another contender attractive.

If I were Rondo, the only time I would sign an extension is if it's more-than-likely that I won't be able to return to my level of play pre-injury. That way, I can take my money in what will likely be my last big payday then go from there.