Rajon Rondo on drafting point guard Marcus Smart

[BudweiserCeltic]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/07/07/rajon-rondo-appears-comfortable-with-celtics-drafting-point-guard/o0Mo0DTG3HkwbN7Bsby1TP/story.html

Here's a bit of it:

Then last month, Rondo was again on a plane headed to Los Angeles on the eve of the draft, and when the flight landed this time, his phone stayed calm.

“I didn’t have a thousand text messages, so I knew I was still a Celtic or that we didn’t make any big trades,” he said with a laugh Monday during a break at his basketball camp, held in his hometown.

............


Ainge said that he didn’t inform Rondo on draft night that he was selecting a point guard, and he told the Globe last week that the two hadn’t chatted in the days following the draft, either. (Ainge added that he hadn’t talked about that with any other current members of the team.)

But Rondo said he doesn’t believe he needs to hear any reassurances from Ainge about his role on the Celtics.

“No. That’s fine,” Rondo said, adding, “I don’t have too many feelings involved in this business. I’ve played my heart out for the game, but business is business. I can be here today, gone tomorrow. You never know. For me to get bent out of shape, or to feel threatened by the Celtics drafting a point guard, it means nothing.”

If anything, Rondo might just be used to any uncertainty, or alleged uncertainty, about his position with the Celtics, as he has been surrounded by almost daily trade rumors for years.

Beyond that, though, Rondo said he likes the players the team drafted.

“I think we got some good picks, some really good picks,” Rondo said. “What I like about Smart is that he competes. He kind of reminds me [of myself]. I like the guys that compete and remind me of myself, guys like [Kendrick Perkins]. That’s not to say that nobody on the team this year didn’t compete. Avery [Bradley] is one of the best competitors that we have in this league.

“But not a lot of young guys come in and you can get that feel right away that they will compete. So I think that’s a big pickup for us in that aspect. I think having a guy on the wing that will defend along with Avery and myself, and has a lot more size and strength, that will be big.

“And then Young, I’ve been watching him since he played at Kentucky [Rondo’s alma mater]. He’s a knockdown shooter. I’ve heard that he’s even a better shooter than what we’ve seen in the games.

“It’ll be fun to get to practice with both these guys, to get to know them, to get a feel for them, what they like to do, where they like the ball, and just continue to grow.”

(For the record, Smart said on draft night that Rondo “reminds me a little bit of me. He plays defense. He’s long, his wing span, and he has big hands.” So both players see some similarities in each other.)

[sed522002]

Good to hear from him. Seems to have the right attitude about the situation.

[Clench123]

He has matured a lot.

[Mr October]

Thanks for the article. Rondo always plays it close to the vest. And the quotes here were guarded as one might expect.

There isn't much to take away from this article. I feel that Rondo is not going to be a Celtic throughout next season. I hope there is someway to make it all work. He is a heck of a player.

[DraftSmart33]

At best Smart is 2 seasons away from being a a starting NBA point guard.  The question is how does Rondo fit in with the teams future...

Great link and thread....TP

[hpantazo]

From Rondos comments, I'm really looking forward to seeing Young play. A better knockdown shooter than what we've seen already sounds good to me.

[D.o.s.]

If I remember correctly, when the Spurs drafted George Hill the question wasn't "Where's Tony Parker going."

[sed522002]

If I remember correctly, when the Spurs drafted George Hill the question wasn't "Where's Tony Parker going."

Right. How about we let Smart grow into his role instead of automatically naming him the "face of the franchise", just because he's the #6 pick. He has to earn his stripes before we anoint him.

[Tr1boy]

Rondo to me is not really happy

He wanted to be more involved with what the Celtics will do next and he has been left out

[sed522002]

Rondo to me is not really happy

He wanted to be more involved with what the Celtics will do next and he has been left out

How did you get that from this article...LOL

[D.o.s.]

Rondo to me is not really happy

He wanted to be more involved with what the Celtics will do next and he has been left out

Never change.

[wayupnorth]

Rondo to me is not really happy

He wanted to be more involved with what the Celtics will do next and he has been left out

Why I am not shocked that you get that from this article.

 

[blink]

Rondo to me is not really happy

He wanted to be more involved with what the Celtics will do next and he has been left out

Complete projection of your own views on a statement that doesn't say anything like that.

[Tr1boy]

“No. That’s fine,” Rondo said, adding, “I don’t have too many feelings involved in this business. I’ve played my heart out for the game, but business is business. I can be here today, gone tomorrow.

wow he is so optimistic. Gone tomorrow btw doesn't only mean Ainge trading him

[twistedrico]

Great comments by Rajon. We can not trade this guy, he's too good and too smart.