Jackie MacMullan "Rondo wants a max deal"

[BballTim]

She's an analyst basically. She's not an investigative journalist like Woj.

This is so hilariously wrong its almost incredible.

Agreed. Jackie is one of the best journalists in our area and has been for a long time. People in this thread really disrespecting her right now.

It's systemic with the business, and the proof lies in this thread and on this blog in general.

People no longer want information. They want to be told that what they want to believe is correct. Intellectual laziness at its best. True in politics, true on the subject of the wildly overrated point guard of the Boston Celtics.

   Oh look, a guy who agrees with what Jackie said chastising others for being skeptical about a rumor that they hear. How typical.

[mgent]

Some of you guys are hysterical. I bet Rondo has more triple doubles, especially in the playoffs, than any "role player" in the history of the NBA.

  Yeah, Rondo's a role player, the real superstars are draft picks who haven't stepped on the court in an nba game.

No, those aren't the real superstars, those are the franchise corner-stones.

[BballTim]

Some of you guys are hysterical. I bet Rondo has more triple doubles, especially in the playoffs, than any "role player" in the history of the NBA.

  Yeah, Rondo's a role player, the real superstars are draft picks who haven't stepped on the court in an nba game.

No, those aren't the real superstars, those are the franchise corner-stones.

  My mistake.

[LarBrd33]

I think everything Jackie says is legitimate.  She's not just making stuff up here.  A lot of denial floating around the board, but we've seen several reputable sportswriters comment over the years about Ainge discussing Rondo trades.  Even Ainge himself has admitted to having discussed trading Rondo for "the right deal".  He's always been a chip Ainge was willing to move.   It's not like every media type collectively decided to start lying about Rondo to annoy fans on Celticsblog.

Her comments also back up something that I've pointed out several times.  We heard about the Kings and Celtics talking about trading Rondo a while ago.  She mentions that the Celtics were asking for too much... but also hearing that Rondo made it known he wouldn't re-sign with the Kings.  We wouldn't have known about Rondo's stance unless discussions had gotten far enough along that he had to make his intentions known.  It's not like every "feeler" offer made by team results in the star player stepping in and saying, "I will not go there!"... Otherwise, every time a team like the Bobcats called up the Celtics to get an idea of Rondo's price, you would have immediately seen reports about how "Rondo refuses to go to the Bobcats".  No... discussions had to be pretty serious for Rondo and his agent to get involved like that.   

I'm curious what was deemed "too much"?   They wanted Thomas and McLemore.   What else?  King's 2014 pick? 

Thing is, at this point trading Rondo doesn't make much sense.  Houston has nothing to offer anymore.  The kings would have been a good fit prior to the draft... Boston could have taken a big man at #6 or #8 and had an actual use for McLemore + the pick.   At this point, we have 3 guards and the two best moveable assets on the Kings are both guards as well.  I think that ship has sailed unless a 3rd team is getting involved.

[footey]

Jackie writes well, but she is not one to break a story.  Also, her output has declined dramatically since switching from the Globe to ESPN, where she spends more time on TV than writing articles. 

[guava_wrench]

If someone will give Rondo a max deal, oh well. They will have some payroll issues.

Rondo is an excellent player, but you need guys on good deals to be a top team. Giving Rondo a Joe Johnson type contract could cap our future success.

[aingefan]

He deserves it. He's easily a top 3 pg in the NBA right now.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think everything Jackie says is legitimate.  She's not just making stuff up here.  A lot of denial floating around the board, but we've seen several reputable sportswriters comment over the years about Ainge discussing Rondo trades.  Even Ainge himself has admitted to having discussed trading Rondo for "the right deal".  He's always been a chip Ainge was willing to move.   It's not like very media type collectively decided to start lying about Rondo to annoy fans on Celticsblog.

Her comments also back up something that I've pointed out several times.  We heard about the Kings and Celtics talking about trading Rondo a while ago.  She mentions that the Celtics were asking for too much... but also hearing that Rondo made it known he wouldn't re-sign with the Kings.  We wouldn't have known about Rondo's stance unless discussions had gotten far enough along that he had to make his intentions known.  It's not like every "feeler" offer made by team results in the star player stepping in and saying, "I will not go there!"... Otherwise, every time a team like the Bobcats called up the Celtics to get an idea of Rondo's price, you would have immediately seen reports about how "Rondo refuses to go to the Bobcats".  No... discussions had to be pretty serious for Rondo and his agent to get involved like that.   

I'm curious what was deemed "too much"?   They wanted Thomas and McLemore.   What else?  King's 2014 pick? 

Thing is, at this point trading Rondo doesn't make much sense.  Houston has nothing to offer anymore.  The kings would have been a good fit prior to the draft... Boston could have taken a big man at #6 or #8 and had an actual use for McLemore + the pick.   At this point, we have 3 guards and the two best moveable assets on the Kings are both guards as well.  I think that ship has sailed unless a 3rd team is getting involved.

Ainge "asking for too much" just pretty much disproves his apparent shopping Rondo around narrative many in the media want to paint.

No one has said that Ainge wouldn't move Rondo if the right trade presents itself, that's pretty much his stance for every player. But that Ainge isn't moving him, and is asking for too much just has to tell you that Ainge values Rondo a lot and the "urgency" to trade him that persists throughout the media is either a complete misread of the situation or a complete exaggeration or just completely false.

In all, I don't doubt that Ainge is entertaining trade ideas and that he wouldn't pull the trigger if the right one presented itself, but can we stop with this persistent hyperbole that Ainge wants to trade Rondo and that he NEEDS to trade him?

Heck, didn't they offer him an extension at some point last season? Is that not relevant to anyone? An extension that didn't happen because due to the CBA there were offer limitations?

As for Rondo not re-signing with X team, well there have been multiple reports, every time that a rumor comes out, then someone has to find out if Rondo was willing to commit there, and his answer seems to be the usual "NO". Sacramento is no different.

Was there a trade discussion with Sacramento, sure. What else is new, Ainge always looking to improve the team while attempting to rip you off at the same time.

If that's the definition of Ainge shopping Rondo around, then sure... Ainge is shopping Rondo around.

So in all, Jackie Mac isn't bringing any new insight to the situation that wasn't already known or speculated about. I'm a fan of hers, but you can't read too much into what she's saying on this regard because it's nothing more than personal speculation about facts that have been widely known for a while, facts that the media seems to enjoy misrepresenting to fit their own personal narrative.

[BudweiserCeltic]

If someone will give Rondo a max deal, oh well. They will have some payroll issues.

Rondo is an excellent player, but you need guys on good deals to be a top team. Giving Rondo a Joe Johnson type contract could cap our future success.

Concerning our current salary flexibility, offering Rondo a max deal won't handicap us much particularly since many of our role player are on rookie deals at the moment. We should still have room to add another max player.

So I wouldn't worry to much about it. I'm more worried on how he'll perform next season and make a decision based on that. I'm confident he's good enough and well regarded by the real talent in the NBA to help bring another player here via free-agency. Will it end up happening? We'll have to wait and see.

[inverselock]

I think everything Jackie says is legitimate.  She's not just making stuff up here.  A lot of denial floating around the board, but we've seen several reputable sportswriters comment over the years about Ainge discussing Rondo trades.  Even Ainge himself has admitted to having discussed trading Rondo for "the right deal".  He's always been a chip Ainge was willing to move.   It's not like very media type collectively decided to start lying about Rondo to annoy fans on Celticsblog.

Her comments also back up something that I've pointed out several times.  We heard about the Kings and Celtics talking about trading Rondo a while ago.  She mentions that the Celtics were asking for too much... but also hearing that Rondo made it known he wouldn't re-sign with the Kings.  We wouldn't have known about Rondo's stance unless discussions had gotten far enough along that he had to make his intentions known.  It's not like every "feeler" offer made by team results in the star player stepping in and saying, "I will not go there!"... Otherwise, every time a team like the Bobcats called up the Celtics to get an idea of Rondo's price, you would have immediately seen reports about how "Rondo refuses to go to the Bobcats".  No... discussions had to be pretty serious for Rondo and his agent to get involved like that.   

I'm curious what was deemed "too much"?   They wanted Thomas and McLemore.   What else?  King's 2014 pick? 

Thing is, at this point trading Rondo doesn't make much sense.  Houston has nothing to offer anymore.  The kings would have been a good fit prior to the draft... Boston could have taken a big man at #6 or #8 and had an actual use for McLemore + the pick.   At this point, we have 3 guards and the two best moveable assets on the Kings are both guards as well.  I think that ship has sailed unless a 3rd team is getting involved.

Complete speculation.  You don't know if other GM's are trying to acquire Rondo or if Ainge is trying to sell Rondo.  All this "I heard".

[BballTim]

I think everything Jackie says is legitimate.  She's not just making stuff up here.  A lot of denial floating around the board, but we've seen several reputable sportswriters comment over the years about Ainge discussing Rondo trades.  Even Ainge himself has admitted to having discussed trading Rondo for "the right deal".  He's always been a chip Ainge was willing to move.   It's not like very media type collectively decided to start lying about Rondo to annoy fans on Celticsblog.

  It's fairly amusing that people get excited about Rondo being available in "the right deal", as if it means that there's a cab headed to Rondo's house to take him to the airport. Every player and draft pick that Danny's ever had under his control has been a chip that's available in the right deal. Also, it's not like every media type says the same thing about Rondo. There' a constant stream of "the Celts aren't interested in trading Rondo" or "teams are trying to pry Rondo from the Celts but Danny's not biting" rumors that you just ignore because they don't fit into your narrative.

[flybono]

If this were a chess match I believe rondo would line up somewhere in the back row but not on the square where the king and queen sit.
Good player yes, Chris Paul or Allen Iverson he is not. Franchise player? No. But a good enough point guard to build around with a veteran coach or players named James or Bryant.
Problem is, celtics have neither, nor the cap space, nor high enough value players to acquire such.
It was a good run with KG PP RA, it's over.

Rondo's makeup isn't leadership quality. It was evident this season with the birthday issue.
Get what you can get via trade, continue the youth movement and hope to The Lord above one of those 1 picks in 16 net the Celtics TMaker!

[BballTim]

Her comments also back up something that I've pointed out several times.  We heard about the Kings and Celtics talking about trading Rondo a while ago.  She mentions that the Celtics were asking for too much... but also hearing that Rondo made it known he wouldn't re-sign with the Kings.  We wouldn't have known about Rondo's stance unless discussions had gotten far enough along that he had to make his intentions known.  It's not like every "feeler" offer made by team results in the star player stepping in and saying, "I will not go there!"... Otherwise, every time a team like the Bobcats called up the Celtics to get an idea of Rondo's price, you would have immediately seen reports about how "Rondo refuses to go to the Bobcats".  No... discussions had to be pretty serious for Rondo and his agent to get involved like that.   

  Possibly, but obviously not necessarily the case. For all you know Rondo's agent got wind of the fact that the Kings wanted Rondo and told them Rondo didn't want to play there before they even called Danny. You seem to think that the Kings and Celts were close to a deal so the Kings called Rondo. Nothing in the rumors that I've heard have ever pointed to that being the case.

[Beat LA]

If this were a chess match I believe rondo would line up somewhere in the back row but not on the square where the king and queen sit.
Good player yes, Chris Paul or Allen Iverson he is not. Franchise player? No. But a good enough point guard to build around with a veteran coach or players named James or Bryant.
Problem is, celtics have neither, nor the cap space, nor high enough value players to acquire such.
It was a good run with KG PP RA, it's over.

Rondo's makeup isn't leadership quality. It was evident this season with the birthday issue.
Get what you can get via trade, continue the youth movement and hope to The Lord above one of those 1 picks in 16 net the Celtics TMaker!

I don't agree with that assertion because 1)  when they were here, KG, Paul, and Ray did reference Rondo as their leader (when he got tossed in game 1 of that 2012 series against Atlanta, I believe), and 2)  there was a time when Pierce's leadership and maturity were questioned.  Have you forgotten the provocation by Tinsley in the 2005 series against the Pacers, when Paul got thrown out and took off his jersey, whipping it around in the air as he left the court?  Many, many people at the time said that that was it, and that it was time to trade The Truth   I still find that to be ridiculous. 

Look, Rondo, like him or not, and I agree with everyone who's said that they've never gotten the feeling that Jackie likes the guy, is an amazing player, who not only makes players better, but can dominate a game without ever taking a shot?  I know that the prime of a point guard is not as long as the other positions on the court, but I still don't understand why people want to get rid of the guy.  He's easily the best pg in the league, and let me ask everyone this - say that we had taken the Greek Freak and had somehow moved Jeff Green, so that by the end of the year, we would be trotting out a core of Rondo, Bradley, Giannis, Sully, and I don't know who to put there, haha, but the point here is that that is a pretty awesome collection of young talent PRIOR to the lottery.  I'd feel much better about our future if we had Giannis, but alas, we don't   It's just something to think about.

[kozlodoev]

I don't see what everyone gets so worked up about. Rondo may want whatever his heart desires. If he wants a max contract, he's as good as gone. If he doesn't, perhaps there's a chance to get something worked out.

I know a couple of things, though: (1) the Celtics are not giving Rondo a max contract; and (2) if Ainge was convinced he could not resign Rondo, by now we would be discussing whether Isiah Thomas or Marcus Smart should be our starting PG on opening day.