Trading Rondo...

[HomeRunBaker]

 
I can't envision a situation where the C's would get a return on a Rondo S&T that they would prefer to simply freeing up the cap space.
 
Rondo's primary value is as an expiring contract. His cap number is $12.9mm, and the C's have a $6mm trade exception. If some club desperately wants to move salary during the season, Danny will listen. Otherwise, I think Rondo will play out the string, then sign elsewhere next summer.

The reason Rondo's value ISN'T that of an expiring contract is that your typical dead-weight expiring deal sits on the end of the bench collecting a paycheck with a smile on his face understanding the realities of being overpaid.

Rondo isn't that guy nor is he the guy who can easily fit into a role. No team views Rondo in this manner as he would need to be their starting PG, the team would need to adjust to his unique skillset as their PG......and for what, so he can leave via FA over the summer?

It's why he's still a Celtic today. Teams aren't touching him on a one-year lame duck deal. Only a Kyrie or Westbrook-type injury would motivate a team to acquire him this year.

 

[Brickowski]

A sign and trade is advantageous to Rondo as opposed to simply letting him walk, and Rondo's agent will push for one.  
 
IMHO Rondo's lame duck status is less of a factor than his injury.  When Rondo came back last year he was not the same player.  He'll become more tradeable if he shiows that he's back to pre-injury form.

 

[Sprowl]

I think the Lakers made the Jeremy Lin move because they care more about selling jerseys than trying to win right now. They are f****d with Kobe's contract for the next two years anyway, so why trade for a malcontent who probably won't get along with the team hero as he chases a higher place on the career scoring table?

Because Kobe and Rondo would make each other look very, very good. Perfect passes in the perfect spot would make Kobe look like he's 30 again, and near-automatic conversions of Rondo's passes in the mid-range game would make him look like a playmaking genius. Rondo's rebounding and ballhawking peaked several years ago, but as a floor general, he has never been better.

 

[wutang112878]

Because Kobe and Rondo would make each other look very, very good. Perfect passes in the perfect spot would make Kobe look like he's 30 again, and near-automatic conversions of Rondo's passes in the mid-range game would make him look like a playmaking genius. Rondo's rebounding and ballhawking peaked several years ago, but as a floor general, he has never been better.

 
I'd say its about a 50/50 chance that this works as you described or its complete disaster.  Both of them are stubborn, difficult to coach and think they know it all.  If they agree on everything and they are willing to defer to one another, then its fine but they would have to iron out a lot of stuff for it to work.  For example, if Rondo thinks the Lakers should run but Kobe doesnt want to put that strain on his knees, there will be some problems.  If Rondo proclaims that he is the alpha dog which Kobe protests there could be complete dysfunction.  And if Kobe cant cope with Rondo not bringing it every night and Rondo wont give him the time of day when Kobe confronts him, then I think it comes to fisticuffs.  Whatever would happen, I'd love to see it.

 

[nighthob]

I think the Lakers made the Jeremy Lin move because they care more about selling jerseys than trying to win right now.

Jersey sales are shared equally by all teams, so Lin helps the Lakers with some international marketing issues, and maybe in terms of commissions for in-game sales. But not to the extent that you think. That being said, national TV Rondo sells a shitload of jerseys himself and the Lakers would have Lin and Rondo.
 

They are f****d with Kobe's contract for the next two years anyway, so why trade for a malcontent who probably won't get along with the team hero as he chases a higher place on the career scoring table?

You're joking right? I mean, if there's one guy that Bryant would salivate over playing with it's the passer that is happy to never shoot the ball at all. Plus Bryant actually has said that he'd like to play with Rondo, and on that team who else is the assist whore going to pass to? Jordan Hill?

 

[nighthob]

A sign and trade is advantageous to Rondo as opposed to simply letting him walk, and Rondo's agent will push for one.

Sign & trade deals no longer carry a premium on salary. All Rondo can get in free agency is the max another team could offer him anyway. The only opportunity it opens up, for Rondo, is the ability to sign with a team over the cap, but Boston needs to take back that other team's crappy deals to make it work. Really. No thanks. If the return is going to be picks in the 20s, better they come attached to expiring deals now than in Wallacesque contracts later.

 

[nighthob]

I'd say its about a 50/50 chance that this works as you described or its complete disaster.  Both of them are stubborn, difficult to coach and think they know it all.  If they agree on everything and they are willing to defer to one another, then its fine but they would have to iron out a lot of stuff for it to work.  For example, if Rondo thinks the Lakers should run but Kobe doesnt want to put that strain on his knees, there will be some problems.  If Rondo proclaims that he is the alpha dog which Kobe protests there could be complete dysfunction.  And if Kobe cant cope with Rondo not bringing it every night and Rondo wont give him the time of day when Kobe confronts him, then I think it comes to fisticuffs.  Whatever would happen, I'd love to see it.

In fairness Bryant last summer admitted that he had to alter his game and made remarks to the effect that had started to watch a lot of Pierce tape. And if he's interested in scoring as much as he can over the next two seasons, a player that's happy to go 0/0 while getting 15 assists is pretty close to his ideal teammate. I also wouldn't worry about Rondo wanting to run, because running cuts into his rebound and assist numbers. He likes playing halfcourt ball, which fits right into Bryant's wheelhouse. And as the only player on their roster with a role in a running game is simultaneously their only trade chit, the Lakers would be a passing guard, a scorer, and halfcourt roleplayers.

Not sure who you are implying.  Is it the same team with Kobe, or same building with Chris Paul?

I thought it was well known that he hates CP3 with the intensity of a nuclear blast furnace, and he'd get four games a year against his nemesis in front his new home crowd, more or less.

 

[wutang112878]

In fairness Bryant last summer admitted that he had to alter his game and made remarks to the effect that had started to watch a lot of Pierce tape. And if he's interested in scoring as much as he can over the next two seasons, a player that's happy to go 0/0 while getting 15 assists is pretty close to his ideal teammate. I also wouldn't worry about Rondo wanting to run, because running cuts into his rebound and assist numbers. He likes playing halfcourt ball, which fits right into Bryant's wheelhouse. And as the only player on their roster with a role in a running game is simultaneously their only trade chit, the Lakers would be a passing guard, a scorer, and halfcourt roleplayers.

 
I remember reading the comments about watching Pierce and I'm completely confident that Kobe will alter his game because he really works at his craft.  I think the conflict would really be around the alpha dog title and if Kobe is able to cope with not being able to hold the ball as much as he is accustomed to.  I think its really hard for all superstars to reflect and say "I'm not what I was, so I wont be doing as much" and it seems they have to start struggle for a bit before they realize less is more for them.  Thats why I'll kind of believe that Kobe can accept a lesser role when I see it.  Pierce deferred the leader role to KG and sacrificed his stats and shots for the greater good.  I really dont know if Kobe will be capable of doing this because the Laker universe has completely revolved around him ever since Shaq was traded away.
 
This sort of reminds me of last year when KG was perplexed by his inability to shoot and just couldnt wrap his head around the fact that his body was finally betraying him.  These guys really arent self aware.
 
 

I thought it was well known that he hates CP3 with the intensity of a nuclear blast furnace, and he'd get four games a year against his nemesis in front his new home crowd, more or less.

 
You dont say, I dont know how I never picked up on that.  Was there some origin of it, like a rift or incident or something? 

 

[nighthob]

I remember reading the comments about watching Pierce and I'm completely confident that Kobe will alter his game because he really works at his craft.  I think the conflict would really be around the alpha dog title and if Kobe is able to cope with not being able to hold the ball as much as he is accustomed to.  I think its really hard for all superstars to reflect and say "I'm not what I was, so I wont be doing as much" and it seems they have to start struggle for a bit before they realize less is more for them.  Thats why I'll kind of believe that Kobe can accept a lesser role when I see it.  Pierce deferred the leader role to KG and sacrificed his stats and shots for the greater good.  I really dont know if Kobe will be capable of doing this because the Laker universe has completely revolved around him ever since Shaq was traded away.

Thing is, I don't think that Rondo changes him getting to put up a lot of shots, all Rondo's presence means is that he'll get some easier ones. Bryant was openly annoyed the year that he and Nash played together that he had to run the offense because Nash imploded overnight. I think he was expecting that Nash would get him some easy buckets, only Nash basically fell apart.

 

[nighthob]

Nash & Randle I would assume since that's all LA has to trade.

 

[wutang112878]

Nash & Randle I would assume since that's all LA has to trade.

 
I agree this is really all they have, but yuck.  If this is what we get, I would like to flip Randle as I dont really like him as a player and we already have a bunch of 4s that arent anything special.  We really cant even get a pick from LA either.  Maybe they'd be willing to give up Houston's 2015 1st but I doubt it since they owe their 2015 1st to Phoenix for the immortal Nash (that worked out well).  Then 2 years after they give a pick to Phoenix they owe Orlando a 1st.  Both of those picks have some protection but their Howard and Nash gambles were really awful considering how much future they are now giving up.  I'm sure their plan is to rebuild via free agency, but it chances are they are going to lose one or maybe 2 top 10 picks here.

 

[mauf]

You guys are delusional if you think we're getting a talent like Randle for Rondo without taking on a bad long-term contract.
 
The fact that the Lakers don't have a bad contract that's tradable, and likely won't have a 2015 first-round pick, makes them an especially unlikely trade partner. The only way Rondo could end up in LA is if a third team is involved, or if Rondo is so unhappy in Boston that the C's decide to flip him for Nash and filler just to be rid of him.

 

[moondog80]

About a month back Simmons speculated Charlotte, for Noah Vonleh and a pick.  Kemba Walker (who Charlotte may not want to extend anyway) would turn into 3rd guard.  Could do worse.

 

[Brickowski]

Sign & trade deals no longer carry a premium on salary. All Rondo can get in free agency is the max another team could offer him anyway. The only opportunity it opens up, for Rondo, is the ability to sign with a team over the cap, but Boston needs to take back that other team's crappy deals to make it work. 

The advantage is that Rondo has a much wider choice of teams if the C's are willing to do a sign-and-trade. In free agency, he's limited to teams under the cap (usually crappy teams) if he wants to make the max (or close to it).
 
As for what comes back, who knows?  Ainge has to weigh the return in a sign-and-trade against the free agents he could attract using the extra cap space he gets by letting Rondo walk for nothing.

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

About a month back Simmons speculated Charlotte, for Noah Vonleh and a pick.  Kemba Walker (who Charlotte may not want to extend anyway) would turn into 3rd guard.  Could do worse.

 
Seems to me that from Charlotte's perspective you're either a) giving up way too much for a one year rental or b) resigning yourself to overpaying Rondo at or near the max to get him to stay. Lowe's column yesterday speculated that Walker's extension would end up in the 8-12 million range per year--does Rich Cho view Rondo as a big enough upgrade over Walker that he's willing to pay him 6-8 million more per season and give up Vonleh? 

 

[wutang112878]

You guys are delusional if you think we're getting a talent like Randle for Rondo without taking on a bad long-term contract.
 
The fact that the Lakers don't have a bad contract that's tradable, and likely won't have a 2015 first-round pick, makes them an especially unlikely trade partner. The only way Rondo could end up in LA is if a third team is involved, or if Rondo is so unhappy in Boston that the C's decide to flip him for Nash and filler just to be rid of him.

 
This brings up a really interesting issue for the Lakers.  Do they double down and similar to the Howard/Nash moves trade more future (Randle) for the today in the hopes of rebuilding via free agency.  Or alternatively, do they try to really suck this year.
 
They now have to pay the piper for the Howard and Nash deals but they have some protection for the picks:
 
2015 first round draft pick to Phoenix
L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick to Phoenix protected for selections 1-5 in 2015, 1-3 in 2016 and 1-3 in 2017 and unprotected in 2018
 
2017 first round draft pick to Orlando
If at least two years after the L.A. Lakers conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix, then the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick to Orlando protected for selections 1-5 in 2017 and 1-5 in 2018 and unprotected in 2019; if the L.A. Lakers have not conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix by 2017, then the L.A. Lakers will instead convey their 2017 2nd round pick and 2018 2nd round pick to Orlando
 
So if they suck really bad and are in the top 5 this year they keep their 1st from going to Phoenix.  Then they would give their 2016 to Phoenix, then in 2017 it wouldnt be 2 years after the Lakers conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix which would then give Orlando their 2017 2nd round pick.
 
This seems like the more conservative approach and better long-term strategy because it would minimize the 1st round draft pick damage they have to give up.  But then again, this is the Lakers and I really dont know if they have it in them to rebuild for years and years.  And if Kobe comes back and is a 2012-13 Kobe then I think he can bring them to 30 wins and I really dont think he has it in him to not bring it every night so they can get that top 5 pick.
 
Its going to be really interesting to see what the Lakers do this year, do they actually try to add pieces which seems stupid or will they actually try to manage the team to a top 5 pick?  This should be great theater.

 

[wutang112878]

 
Seems to me that from Charlotte's perspective you're either a) giving up way too much for a one year rental or b) resigning yourself to overpaying Rondo at or near the max to get him to stay. Lowe's column yesterday speculated that Walker's extension would end up in the 8-12 million range per year--does Rich Cho view Rondo as a big enough upgrade over Walker that he's willing to pay him 6-8 million more per season and give up Vonleh? 

 
Well it is Michael Jordan and he has gone far, far too long without a foolish move.
 
Another consideration might be attendance, the last 3 years Charlotte was 25th, 24th and 25th respectively.  If they think that signing Rondo long term might generate some interest and they could also maybe attract another star piece to help with that if Rondo was there, then they might be able to justify this in their minds. 
 
Its really amazing how many Rondo trade scenarios we look at, and how each time we seem to run into a major issue that would hold back our trading partner.

 

[moondog80]

 
Seems to me that from Charlotte's perspective you're either a) giving up way too much for a one year rental or b) resigning yourself to overpaying Rondo at or near the max to get him to stay. Lowe's column yesterday speculated that Walker's extension would end up in the 8-12 million range per year--does Rich Cho view Rondo as a big enough upgrade over Walker that he's willing to pay him 6-8 million more per season and give up Vonleh? 

 
Is it an overpay if Charlotte gives Rondo the max (or close)?  It's not like they're going to sign any true alpha-dog free agents, so maybe Rondo is the best foreseeable option?

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

 
Is it an overpay if Charlotte gives Rondo the max (or close)?  It's not like they're going to sign any true alpha-dog free agents, so maybe Rondo is the best foreseeable option?

 
In a vacuum, yes, it's an overpay. Though you're right that that would have to be Charlotte's thinking. But without an assurance that Rondo would sign a long-term deal there, I don't think they give up Vonleh. That's a pretty valuable asset to give up for what could be a one year rental, and nothing that we've heard indicates that Rondo would have much interest in Charlotte long-term. 

 

[HomeRunBaker]

 
Well it is Michael Jordan and he has gone far, far too long without a foolish move.
 
Another consideration might be attendance, the last 3 years Charlotte was 25th, 24th and 25th respectively.  If they think that signing Rondo long term might generate some interest and they could also maybe attract another star piece to help with that if Rondo was there, then they might be able to justify this in their minds. 
 
Its really amazing how many Rondo trade scenarios we look at, and how each time we seem to run into a major issue that would hold back our trading partner.

No one player nor a winning team will change those attendance numbers in Charlotte. This is a market who bought into the Hornets and the Shinn/Woolridge ownership group only to get stung (yes a pun) not only by them but also by Bob "Cat" Johnson in sneaking the new arena into a bill without voters knowing them were paying for a new arena. The core fanbase in Charlotte which led the entire league in attendance for EIGHT consecutive seasons will never support an NBA franchise there until future generations. Rajon Rondo isn't changing that.

 

[nighthob]

The advantage is that Rondo has a much wider choice of teams if the C's are willing to do a sign-and-trade.

Right, but when you make sign & trade deals what you get are guys like Gerald Wallace and picks in the 20s. They're twenty eight thousand percent better off trading him for expiring deals and picks in the 20s if the latter is all they're getting anyway.

 

[wutang112878]

No one player nor a winning team will change those attendance numbers in Charlotte. This is a market who bought into the Hornets and the Shinn/Woolridge ownership group only to get stung (yes a pun) not only by them but also by Bob "Cat" Johnson in sneaking the new arena into a bill without voters knowing them were paying for a new arena. The core fanbase in Charlotte which led the entire league in attendance for EIGHT consecutive seasons will never support an NBA franchise there until future generations. Rajon Rondo isn't changing that.

 
I'm not familiar enough with the fan base to really know how much the ownership and stadium thing still hurts, but I do believe a better basketball team would help.  The last 5 years from oldest to last year were 44, 34, 7 (lockout year), 21 and 43 wins respectively.  That type of brutal rebuilding is going to affect the fan base, but I really do think that if they improve upon last year and then added a player in Rondo they could market as a significant piece and he actually helps win a playoff series, then attendance might start trending in the right direction.  I do agree that Hornets fanbase isnt coming back anytime soon though.

 

[nighthob]

You guys are delusional if you think we're getting a talent like Randle for Rondo without taking on a bad long-term contract.

I don't think Randle is a talent the way you obviously do. The reality is that defensively challenged 4s tend float around the NBA picking up counting numbers but not a lot of wins. I mean, he's upgrade on Olynyk/Sullinger, but that isn't saying a lot. I guess the Celtics could always throw in one of those two for the Houston #1 if it made the Lakers feel better.

 

[mauf]

 
This brings up a really interesting issue for the Lakers.  Do they double down and similar to the Howard/Nash moves trade more future (Randle) for the today in the hopes of rebuilding via free agency.  Or alternatively, do they try to really suck this year.
 
They now have to pay the piper for the Howard and Nash deals but they have some protection for the picks:
 
2015 first round draft pick to Phoenix
L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick to Phoenix protected for selections 1-5 in 2015, 1-3 in 2016 and 1-3 in 2017 and unprotected in 2018
 
2017 first round draft pick to Orlando
If at least two years after the L.A. Lakers conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix, then the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick to Orlando protected for selections 1-5 in 2017 and 1-5 in 2018 and unprotected in 2019; if the L.A. Lakers have not conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix by 2017, then the L.A. Lakers will instead convey their 2017 2nd round pick and 2018 2nd round pick to Orlando
 
So if they suck really bad and are in the top 5 this year they keep their 1st from going to Phoenix.  Then they would give their 2016 to Phoenix, then in 2017 it wouldnt be 2 years after the Lakers conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix which would then give Orlando their 2017 2nd round pick.
 
This seems like the more conservative approach and better long-term strategy because it would minimize the 1st round draft pick damage they have to give up.  But then again, this is the Lakers and I really dont know if they have it in them to rebuild for years and years.  And if Kobe comes back and is a 2012-13 Kobe then I think he can bring them to 30 wins and I really dont think he has it in him to not bring it every night so they can get that top 5 pick.
 
Its going to be really interesting to see what the Lakers do this year, do they actually try to add pieces which seems stupid or will they actually try to manage the team to a top 5 pick?  This should be great theater.

 
Thanks for the breakdown. That's interesting.
 
It's probably all moot unless the ping-pong balls bounce their way, or Kobe Bryant gets hit by a bus. Because even with a diminshed Kobe, I can't see the Lakers finishing with one of the worst 4 or 5 records in the league.
 
 

I don't think Randle is a talent the way you obviously do. The reality is that defensively challenged 4s tend float around the NBA picking up counting numbers but not a lot of wins. I mean, he's upgrade on Olynyk/Sullinger, but that isn't saying a lot. I guess the Celtics could always throw in one of those two for the Houston #1 if it made the Lakers feel better.

 
 
I think Randle has a limited upside, but he's polished for a 19 y.o. rookie and figures to be a solid contributor relative to his salary for 5-6 years. That's way too much to give up for a year of Rondo at $12.9mm, plus his Bird rights.

 

[nighthob]

The difference is that LA wants in on the Durant bidding and Rondo and Durant are friends whereas Randle will be an above average offensive 4 who might surrender as much as he scores. In other words, he isn't a draw for anyone, and as we saw this past summer the Lakers now need to compete for free agents too. It's no longer enough to be the Lakers. Also, as you noted, it's nigh on impossible for the Lakers to hold on to their #1 pick, so they may as well make deals to increase their win totals.

EDIT: What I'm getting at here is that you have to stop looking at basketball like it's baseball, because it's not. If we reduce this to PER (forget the difficulties with it, we're just considering it as a measure of overall productivity), a 15 PER player is average and a 20 PER player is an all star, but the difference in actual on court value is a whole lot more than the 33% difference reflected in the numbers.

Even when we go to universal numbers that people like, like Win Shares this carries through, WS would tell you that Reggie Jackson is nearly as good as Russell Westbrook, but he isn't (and I'm Jackson's biggest fan, but even I'll admit that his counting numbers hugely benefit from eating up opponents' benches and being the other guy on the floor when he's with the starting unit).

So the 4 years of cost controlled averageness doesn't mean a lot relative to what the Lakers have the ability to spend just due to their local TV deal (before we get into the reality that soon the national TV deal will cover a good chunk of their payroll). For the Lakers it's more important to have another borderline all star, regardless of what they pay him, than rookie player that doesn't have a ton of upside (I mean, obviously if LA had landed a top pick we wouldn't be having this discussion).

 

[wutang112878]

 
I think Randle has a limited upside, but he's polished for a 19 y.o. rookie and figures to be a solid contributor relative to his salary for 5-6 years. That's way too much to give up for a year of Rondo at $12.9mm, plus his Bird rights.

 
This is what terrifies me about him, its from NBAdraft.net but its also something that was mentioned (and shown in the tape) on draft night as well:
 

 
Overall his game right now is based almost entirely on overpowering weaker opponents ... He is very skilled but it will be hard to find the same success overpowering post players in the league. Also it is worth considering that most of Randle’s game is below the rim ...
 

 
So, woah where are you seeing this?:
 
 

Randle will be an above average offensive 4 who might surrender as much as he scores.

 
To my eyes the Lakers really have no offensive talent outside or Kobe as their 2nd scoring option is really a choice of guys you would want as your 3rd or ideally 4th option offensively.  Now if most of Randle's 'power' game is gone because even if he is overpowering guys, if he has no hops then its pretty easy to stop him with a double team which isnt going to burn the defense since the Lakers have no one who can make you pay.  Offensively I just see him taking a step backwards.
 
 
Another issue is rebounding.  He sort of reminds me of BigBaby in that his rebounding seems to be the result of good positioning and body power.  BBD was a 10.8 rebounds per 36 guy in college, whereas the last 4 years in the pros he has been an 8 per 36 guy, and I see Randle having a similar drop and in college he was a 12 per 36 guy. 
 
Hes going to hustle and compete, no doubt about that and as your 4th best player he will look great in that role, but as your 2nd or 3rd best?  I think thats a tough spot for a rookie because I am of the belief that non-elite prospects tend to have their games diminished significantly when they play on a team devoid of talent because the holes in their games are exploited and they lack any superior skills to compensate.

 

[nighthob]

To my eyes the Lakers really have no offensive talent outside or Kobe as their 2nd scoring option is really a choice of guys you would want as your 3rd or ideally 4th option offensively.  Now if most of Randle's 'power' game is gone because even if he is overpowering guys, if he has no hops then its pretty easy to stop him with a double team which isnt going to burn the defense since the Lakers have no one who can make you pay.  Offensively I just see him taking a step backwards.

The average NBA player (in 2014) scored at efficiency of 1.081 points. I expect Randle to be above that number. So he'll be above average on the offensive end. But that's also going to be close to his ceiling. While most of his college production came on drives to the rim, he'll eventually be a solid mid range shooter which will be his bread and butter.

I wasn't arguing with your contention that he's nothing more than trade bait for the Celtics when the time comes. I was arguing with maufman's contention that he was some monstrous talent. He isn't. He'll get his rebounding numbers because he looks like the sort of player full willing to sacrifice defensive position for rebounds (a la Kevin Love), but unlike Love he doesn't have the offense to compensate for this. On a 25 win team like the Celtics he'd get more counting numbers due to the "someone has to score" factor, but if that results in them being able to cash him in for an all star 2-3 years down the line, all the better.

 

[mauf]

The average NBA player (in 2014) scored at efficiency of 1.081 points. I expect Randle to be above that number. So he'll be above average on the offensive end. But that's also going to be close to his ceiling. While most of his college production came on drives to the rim, he'll eventually be a solid mid range shooter which will be his bread and butter.

I wasn't arguing with your contention that he's nothing more than trade bait for the Celtics when the time comes. I was arguing with maufman's contention that he was some monstrous talent. He isn't. He'll get his rebounding numbers because he looks like the sort of player full willing to sacrifice defensive position for rebounds (a la Kevin Love), but unlike Love he doesn't have the offense to compensate for this. On a 25 win team like the Celtics he'd get more counting numbers due to the "someone has to score" factor, but if that results in them being able to cash him in for an all star 2-3 years down the line, all the better.

 
He's not a monstrous talent, but he's a valuable chip. If the Lakers are inclined to trade him, they'll get someone more valuable than Rondo.
 
More than likely, however, they'll hang on to him and try to develop him into a complementary player who can either play a role on their next good team, or be a piece in the deal that nets them their next star.

 

[nighthob]

All they have to trade is Randle. All they're getting for Randle and expiring deals is a player his present team regards as a mistake. He won't even get his counting numbers on the Lakers as they'll be trying to win and he's going spend more time on the bench than on the floor. I'll be stunned if he has a better career than Noah Vonleh and I half suspect that the Lakers drafted him because the T'wolves were rumored to be high on him and that was smack dab in the middle of the Love explosion (in retrospect I wish the T'wolves had been able to hold that situation together for another six weeks, because once he went on the market the Rondo market evaporated and Boston was so focused on bringing Love in that they weren't taking calls).

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Broke his hand and had surgery. No time table according to WEEIm

 

[zenter]

Broke his hand and had surgery. No time table according to WEEIm

 
Link (CelitcsBlog).
 
Time to extend at a discount?

 

[Kliq]

The thing about Rondo is that with Smart aboard, I don't believe really believe he has much of a future here, so why extend him? I honestly wonder if we should just trade him for .40 cents on the dollar just to get rid of the cost of opportunity. I'm also weary of having an entire backcourt that can't shoot.

 

[knucklecup]

Broke his hand and had surgery. No time table according to WEEIm

6-8 weeks per @GoodmanESPN

Slipped in Shower.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Slipped in Shower.

There is a barefoot joke in here somewhere.

 

[ifmanis5]

Slipped in the shower? Uhhh, I don't believe that. Also, this fucks up our plan of getting him off to a good start and then selling high. GFD.
 
 
Funny part of the article though was annoyed Danny.
 

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was downright exasperated when asked yet again this week about Rondo's future in Boston.
"Are you seriously asking me that again? Yes, we expect Rajon to be in Boston for the long term," Ainge said. "Does that need to be asked any more by anybody ever again?"

 

 

[BigMike]

The thing about Rondo is that with Smart aboard, I don't believe really believe he has much of a future here, so why extend him? I honestly wonder if we should just trade him for .40 cents on the dollar just to get rid of the cost of opportunity. I'm also weary of having an entire backcourt that can't shoot.

 
Well if they extend him we can enjoy the fun and frivolity of desperately trying to trade him for 4 or 5 more years

 

[HomeRunBaker]

So, what/who did Rondo punch?

The Internet

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Rondo takes five showers on game days, the last one precisely 45 minutes before tip-off, because he does his best thinking in the water. He jumps out to scribble ideas, which can present problems, since he is a germaphobe who hates being barefoot. He keeps three or four pairs of shower shoes in his locker. Im a little OCD, he admits.

At least his cornhole game shouldn't suffer.

Rondo spends most of his free time playing cornhole, a game typically reserved for frat boys at Big Ten tailgate parties. He owns two wooden boards, emblazoned with Kentucky and Louisville logos, which he spaces 27 feet apart in his front yard, according to the official rules. He installed a fire pit so he can play through the winter with his neighbor, a thirtysomething Boston businessman who has become equally consumed with tossing beanbags into circular holes.

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2013/02/28/more-weird-stuff-about-rajon-rondo/

 

[Granite Sox]

So, what/who did Rondo punch?

Big Baby

 

[jon abbey]

Slipped in the shower? Uhhh, I don't believe that. 
 
 

 
"Rondo was at a trampoline park in Billerica last night. Might’ve been where he broke his hand. Here he is with my buddy who works there."
 
http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/when-rondo-broke-his-hand-falling-in-the-shower-last-night-he-really-meant-he-broke-it-at-an-indoor-trampoline-park/

 

[EvilEmpire]

Hey, at least he didn't dislocate his ankle. 

 

[nighthob]

At least his cornhole game shouldn't suffer.

I just knew you couldn't resist making a Chauncey Billups joke.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

The surgery was to his metacarpal which typically occurs from punching something with a closed fist. I don't know why Rondo would be punching his shower but there is likely more to this story than "slipping in the shower."

 

[Eddie Jurak]

The surgery was to his metacarpal which typically occurs from punching something with a closed fist. I don't know why Rondo would be punching his shower but there is likely more to this story than "slipping in the shower."

Maybe the shower punched him first...

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Maybe the shower punched him first...

If there is a video he's screwed.

Danny?

 

[NatetheGreat]

 
"Rondo was at a trampoline park in Billerica last night. Might’ve been where he broke his hand. Here he is with my buddy who works there."
 
http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/when-rondo-broke-his-hand-falling-in-the-shower-last-night-he-really-meant-he-broke-it-at-an-indoor-trampoline-park/

 
I heard he was actually saving a kid from drowning.

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

So, what/who did Rondo punch?

 
on tv they don't call him Rage-On Rondo for nothing.

 

[mauidano]

Forgot how to post the Youtube videos but here's what happened to Rondo.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceWZ624wBVA

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Ok I'd like to hear from a doc on this as I see inconsistencies all over the place. Forget about how the injury occurred I want confirmation of what exactly the injury is to Rondo.

I've heard metacarpal fracture which I'm assuming is the 5th as i believe that is the most common but not certain. I punched a wall when I was 20-something and broke my 5th.

I didn't need surgery, was in a cast from hand to mid-forearm for 5 weeks only exposing fingertips so my knuckles couldn't bend. One week of tennis ball exercises and I was playing ball again within 10 days less than 7 weeks following injury.

Rondo's injury required surgery, he stated doctors told him 10 weeks to recover, and the pic on media day shows the cast exposing all of his knuckles.

I understand it could be a different injury but we have several here who could educate us by chiming in. Paging Doc's!!!

 

[radsoxfan]

Ok I'd like to hear from a doc on this as I see inconsistencies all over the place. Forget about how the injury occurred I want confirmation of what exactly the injury is to Rondo.

I've heard metacarpal fracture which I'm assuming is the 5th as i believe that is the most common but not certain. I punched a wall when I was 20-something and broke my 5th.

I didn't need surgery, was in a cast from hand to mid-forearm for 5 weeks only exposing fingertips so my knuckles couldn't bend. One week of tennis ball exercises and I was playing ball again within 10 days less than 7 weeks following injury.

Rondo's injury required surgery, he stated doctors told him 10 weeks to recover, and the pic on media day shows the cast exposing all of his knuckles.

I understand it could be a different injury but we have several here who could educate us by chiming in. Paging Doc's!!!

 
You hear metacarpal fracture and you assume 5th?  Why?  People can break any of their metacarpals quite easily, from a variety of different activities. 
 
Certainly a "boxer's fracture" is to the 5th metacarpal, and is the most common metacarpal fracture (http://radiopaedia.org/articles/boxer-fracture-1).  But that doesn't mean thats Rondo's injury.  In fact, it was reported that Rondo broke his 3rd metacarpal (http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2014/09/rajon_rondo_explains_broken_hand_injury_dismisses_trampoline.html)
 
FWIW, my younger brother broke his 3rd and 4th metacarpals playing basketball in college (we think….) and had the same hand surgeon as Rondo (not McKeon, the team doc, but the hand surgeon who helped with the surgery).  He re-broke his hand 2 months after surgery, and was out 4 months.  Admittedly, I'm pretty sure my brother followed none of the recommendations about what not to do after surgery.