Tbh it really just seems like the people who do want Kyrie to stay just don’t want the Celtics to end up with nothing because of him. It’s not that they love his fit here or feel like it’s going to workout and that he will become the player we need him to be.
No, we want to keep him because he's had two excellent seasons in Boston, is a top-20 player, and he's coming off a super-efficient, All-NBA 2nd Team year. He should also help acquire and retain Anthony Davis.
Not wanting to lose an asset for nothing is another perfectly valid reason for wanting to stay, though.
I’m just 1 of the few who don’t believe Kyrie will have anything to do with AD staying or not. Just sign Rondo and everyone is happy, I know Davis missed Rondo.
Rondo is one of my all-time favorite players but if you want the Celtics to succeed in the next 3-5 years, Kyrie is a far superior PG and it's not even debatable.
Talent wise? Yes, team fit? No
That's preposterous. Rondo was traded from Boston and unceremoniously dumped by Dallas in the middle of a playoff series because he was a bad fit in their respective systems. He's subsequently been let go by Sacramento, Chicago, New Orleans and LA after only one season because he wasn't in their plans moving forward.
Why on earth would Rondo be a better fit in Brad's system, when he wasn't the first time? Kyrie just earned second team All-NBA in this same system, something Rondo, even in his prime, never achieved.
Rondo wasn't "let go" by the Pelicans or the Kings. He only signed for one year deal with the Kings. The locker room certainly loved him there, as well as the younger guys in the Bulls and Pelicans as well.
He left the Kings because of the disfunction within the team:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16185384/rajon-rondo-tension-filled-sacramento-kings-never-jelled-teamBulls waived him because the team will go full rebuild and have shipped Butler to the Wolves. He no longer fits their timeline. Let's not forget they also waived Wade.
Pelicans obviously wanted to sign him back but Laker's offer enticed him more.
I love how people forget that Rondo was once a top 10 player in the NBA. Kyrie wasn't even in the top 10 conversation this season. If All-NBA team is an argument, then might as well bring back IT instead. He was also a 2nd-All NBA team, have for more wins than this supposedly more talented team and went to the ECF. And he finished top 5 in MVP votings.
Rondo may not fit the Steven's team as the primary option, but neither is Kyrie as we saw this season. He could, however be secondary scorer next to guys like KD or AD if ever we get one of them. Rondo will not fit as the main option, but he could be a very good role player now that he's matured and knows that he's no longer a star.