Rajon Rondo Deserves a Max Contract, Just Not with the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have already found their point guard of the future.
And his name is Marcus Smart.
As the organization ostensibly embarks upon its courtship of eight-year veteran (and starting point guard) Rajon Rondo, it should keep his far less expensive replacement in mind. Rondo, you see, is confident he deserves a mega-lucrative long-term deal when he becomes a free agent next summer.
It's a premise that holds water. Even president of basketball operations Danny Ainge seems to concur.
"I think a four-time All-Star by the time he's 27 years old would qualify for max based on what we've seen in the marketplace," Ainge told reporters in September. "If I were Rajon and I were Rajon's agent [Bill Duffy], I would definitely say that. But since I'm negotiating against him, I'll withhold."
Objectively speaking, the 28-year-old floor general is probably worth every penny of a max deal—just not to these Celtics.
To put the potential expenditure in perspective, NBCSports.com's Dan Feldman notes that, "Based on the projected salary cap of $66.3 million, Rondo's max contract would start at $18,602,898. He could make up to $106,966,663 over five years by re-signing with the Celtics or up to $79,434,374 over four years elsewhere."
Either way, that's big money—the kind of money Boston would be wise to save for another day.
There are sentimental reasons to keep the Kentucky product around, sure. Rondo himself has expressed an interest in staying largely on account of such reasons.
"The fans, the people here, make me want to stay," Rondo explained to media. "The organization has been great. I can't say enough about Danny and [majority owner] Wyc [Grousbeck]. When I walk down the street, the fans embrace me from Day 1."
"It's more of a thank you. It's a love for the game," he added. "These people here know the game and they care for it. They know when you're not playing as hard as you can. The love I get is kind of overwhelming in Boston. Why wouldn't I want to stay here?"
It may have been a rhetorical question, but the answers are anything but.
The Celtics have—at the very least—another one or two years of rebuilding ahead of them. It will take time for second-year head coach Brad Stevens to groom and develop a roster stocked primarily with young talent like Smart, fellow rookie James Young, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk.
Even four-year veteran Avery Bradley is still only 23. Recently signed swingman Evan Turner turns 26 this October.
At 28—and well into the prime of his career—Rondo is the kind of pricey investment that makes far more sense for a franchise that's ready to contend. He boasts championship experience and a leadership pedigree that could theoretically turn a good team into a great one.
Put simply, Rondo—and the money spent thereon—are wasted in Boston.
Both he and the organization should see eye to eye on this. Neither side stands to benefit from a costly marriage that would, at best, make the Celtics a middling playoff hopeful far removed from premier draft position.
Chances are both sides realize it too—or will soon enough.
Much as Rondo has touted his desire to remain with the team that first acquired him in 2006, he's reportedly long been intent on exploring his options in 2015.
"Though he is not looking to get out of Boston, Rajon Rondo was quick to kill talk of an extension when recently approached by Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge," ESPN Insider's Chris Broussard noted in January (subscription required). "It didn't even get to the numbers stage."
Importantly, Broussard added that, "Rondo is looking forward to becoming an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career in the summer of 2015."
Unless Rondo and his Bird rights are traded by February, he'd make less money going elsewhere as a free agent.
But there's a strong chance he'd also find a better opportunity to win.
The New York Knicks and the sudden cap flexibility they'll have in 2015 are one possibility.
Back in July 2013, the New York Post's Marc Berman reported that, "[Carmelo] Anthony told friends after the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trade to the Nets, he figured the Knicks would make a play for point guard for Rajon Rondo. Anthony believes Rondo would be the perfect piece and would be super motivated in New York to attempt to knock off Garnett and Pierce."
While there are three seasons (including the 2014-15 campaign) remaining on point guard Jose Calderon's contract, the Knicks remain an intriguing destination for Rondo. With contracts belonging to Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani expiring next summer, new team president Phil Jackson will finally have the resources to attract Rondo and likely others.
Rondo would arguably supply Anthony with the best sidekick he's ever had, forming one half of a superstar core that could put New York back on the NBA's map.
The Knicks aren't the only iconic franchise that should be in the market for an elite point guard.
With contracts belonging to both Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin coming off the books in 2015, the Los Angeles Lakers will have the need for a new distributor and the financial means to acquire one. While Kobe Bryant will be 37 by the time the 2015-16 season rolls around, Rondo could very well serve as the franchise's bridge from one era to the next—helping making the most of Bryant's final season(s) in the process.
The most fitting destination for Rondo may be the Dallas Mavericks, who currently find themselves deploying a platoon of veteran floor generals that includes Raymond Felton, Devin Harris and Jameer Nelson. It's the kind of trio that leaves something to be desired, especially with the rest of the team's lineup really coming into its own.
One can easily imagine Rondo facilitating for top-shelf shooters like Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons, becoming the motor for an offense that may be closer to a title than either the Knicks or Lakers.
While there should be a fairly robust market for Rondo's services next summer, a max contract isn't quite automatic.
He's played in just 68 games over the last two seasons due to injury and struggled to regain his shooting rhythm after returning last season. His 11.7 points, 9.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game were consistent with career marks, but his success on just 40.3 percent of field-goal attempts was a career low.
Another step back or failure to improve upon that number could cause some clubs to think twice before agreeing to a colossal economic commitment.
So the first months of the 2014-15 campaign will be important ones, perhaps an opportunity for Rondo to audition his way to either a trade or top-dollar contract when the time arrives.
By now, it's not about impressing the Celtics. It's about reassuring the suitors who may be a better fit.
It's time for Rondo and Ainge to partner up one last time—not in pursuit of a new deal, but in pursuit of a mutually advantageous arrangement that simultaneously advances Boston's rebuild and Rondo's career alike.
The two sides agree Rondo is worth loads of money, and hopefully they'll agree they're better off with someone else writing the checks.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
