Rajon Rondo Traded To The Mavericks.

[Banks2Pierce]

A long term perspective is order here. This team is 176-175 since Xmas 2009. That's 5 years of .500.

It's the internet, but this infuriated me.

Embarrassing cherrypicking, with a full season of tanking post-big 3 and an appearance in the NBA Finals where the Celtics were up double digits late in Game 7 to boot. Also, throw an ACL tear and a heart condition into the mix as well.

[pac213up]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I don't love the trade but had he signed Rondo to a max contract this offseason people would be saying AInge is an idiot got paying him the max.

[humblebum]

Not sure if keeping Rondo to watch him walk for nothing would've been ballsy as much as just plain dumb.

You used to fine with allowing him to get to free agency and risking him walking away for nothing and now it's dumb? What changed?

Rondo's game is far from a mystery and I don't think he was traded because he was shooting poorly from the field and the line. He was traded because Ainge knew for one reason or another, Rondo wasn't going to stay in Boston.

Most likely it's based highly on feedback from Stevens who just doesn't strike me as a guy who'd be in love with Rondo's game or inconsistent compete level.

I also think with Stevens being an advanced metric/stats guy that there is a decent chance he really wanted to add Brandan Wright to this team. Sure he's a 18-20 MPG guy and he's expiring but he's very, very efficient in his role. He also adds a much needed element of length and athleticism along the frontline.

IMO, this trade just gives the Celtics more flexibility and reduces the potential for a nasty situation developing in the lockerroom. This trade has Stevens influence written on it... or at least Ainge was considering how the Rondo situation would play out and didn't want to subject his young coach to a situation that he couldn't handle. Losing Rondo is one thing... losing the lockerroom is another thing entirely.

Seems like the basketball people felt it was time to move on from Rondo. And with that in mind I don't think this was poor value for Rondo.

I can see what you're trying to say and I still have faith in Brad and I think the team will continue to compete and will probably make the playoffs even without Rondo but I don't think there was any risk of losing the locker room. Rondo capitulated; he grew; he was Brad's right hand man in many ways and he was getting better and better at maintaining pace and doing what Brad wanted. I still think they could have forged a lasting partnership but weren't given the necessary on court time to see that thru. Losing Ron Adams hurt, and I think Brad should have put a ton more emphasis on getting Rondo to shoot the fricking ball more. I don't think he made that case enough; and it was the key to getting what he wanted out of Rondo.

Brandan Wright is NICE. He's EXACTLY the kind of guy they never could pair with Rondo, somebody to protect the rim on defense and rim roll on offense. I think he fits a need and that he'll play well--but I'm not excited about having to pay him this summer (in excess of 8-10 million annually I'd assume), nor do I think we have the ball handlers or passers to make best use of him (Evan Turner is probably our best bet to get him high percentage looks). Honestly, it's probably best we flip him before the deadline because he's going to get overpaid and we're likely to find a better center in the draft.

Crowder is someone I've liked in the past. He defends and plays hard and is intelligent. Nelson is a bum; I hope he goes and goes fast. Losing Powell as a throw in to make the #s work (roster wise) was sand in the face after the kick in the gnads that was the Rondo trade. The picks are more likely to be Fab Melos than Jimmy Butlers. All in all, losing Rondo for nothing would have been more preferable because at least then we know we tried and failed instead of giving up. I hate to give up. We gave up and we telegraphed it to boot. Danny is very smart in many ways but he's never read the Art of War.

My feelings after going for Love was that it made sense to see what we had here with Rondo and this young group. I thought, wrongly, that perhaps Rondo could play great caliber ball in an uptempo system with lots of spacing. I thought that if the team played great around a rejuvenated Rondo that they could be players in free agency for big names like Gasol and Aldridge.

Unfortunately, Rondo's play actually regressed and he proved just how limited of a player he was afterall. Looking at the landscape there is just no chance that ANY star is coming to Boston to play with Rajon. So basically there was no hope for a quick rebuild around Rondo. Sucks, but that's just the reality.

So with that in mind, I think that Ainge got a solid deal considering the limitations of the situation. I don't view it as giving up as much as it's just moving forward.

As far as Ainge having failed by missing on guys like Butler, Jordan, etc. All the GM's in the NBA missed on those guys. It's easy to look at things in hindsight and say he should've done this or that.

Overall Ainge has done a really solid job. Far from perfect, but certainly hasn't been a bad GM. I'd be a lot more concerned if the Celtics were heading in the direction of a treadmill team built around Rondo and Green.

[ryaningf]

A long term perspective is order here. This team is 176-175 since Xmas 2009. That's 5 years of .500.

It's the internet, but this infuriated me.

Embarrassing cherrypicking, with a full season of tanking post-big 3 and an appearance in the NBA Finals where the Celtics were up double digits late in Game 7 to boot. Also, throw an ACL tear and a heart condition into the mix as well.

Sorry about that, thought it was an interesting perspective to consider. And I actually screwed up the number, it was actually 197-196 since Xmas 2009.

I'm familiar with all the conditionals, the injuries, the fact that we actually played like champions for parts of the 2010 and 2012 seasons and tanked most of 2014, but still it's a helpful reminder that thru all that we've really been hanging on to an image that may or may not be that accurate. In that way, it helps me get over losing Rondo for peanuts.

In another way, it shows the level of failure Danny has engaged in. Draft picks will hit and miss but what gets me is that there has been no long term plan and the things sold to us as long term moves (i.e., Jeff Green trade, building with Rondo), just weren't.

[KGboss]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

Truth is nobody knows why or what, but we do know that there havent been results. When there aren't results from Rondo or Management trying to build around Rondo, you have to go in a new direction.

[pac213up]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

Truth is nobody knows why or what, but we do know that there havent been results. When there aren't results from Rondo or Management trying to build around Rondo, you have to go in a new direction.

I do not disagree with that.

[sully00]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

Guys found there way here to play for Doc to play with KG. Guys talked about the chance to play with Paul and Ray. Guys tool less to get here and to stay here. Now to be fair there was no real commitment from the organization to Rondo or Rondo to the organization. There was always a tension and Rondo was always getting dangled in trade rumors but there is a reason why.

The really frustrating part here is that people that are upset about this deal aren't acknowledging how bad Rondo is playing. He is posting the worst PER since his rookie season and that is only slightly worse the last year. It isn't my favorite stat but their is a big difference between 15 and 19 or 20. If I proposed the idea of trading for Deron Williams people would laugh at the idea but at the same time are wailing about the fact that the team is going to bail on making the same mistake.

[Valid]

A long term perspective is order here. This team is 176-175 since Xmas 2009. That's 5 years of .500.

It's the internet, but this infuriated me.

Embarrassing cherrypicking, with a full season of tanking post-big 3 and an appearance in the NBA Finals where the Celtics were up double digits late in Game 7 to boot. Also, throw an ACL tear and a heart condition into the mix as well.

Sorry about that, thought it was an interesting perspective to consider. And I actually screwed up the number, it was actually 197-196 since Xmas 2009.

I'm familiar with all the conditionals, the injuries, the fact that we actually played like champions for parts of the 2010 and 2012 seasons and tanked most of 2014, but still it's a helpful reminder that thru all that we've really been hanging on to an image that may or may not be that accurate. In that way, it helps me get over losing Rondo for peanuts.

In another way, it shows the level of failure Danny has engaged in. Draft picks will hit and miss but what gets me is that there has been no long term plan and the things sold to us as long term moves (i.e., Jeff Green trade, building with Rondo), just weren't.

I don't understand the "failure" talk. Up until last season, we were considered contenders. When you are contending, you don't think about the long term that extensively. We made the finals in 2010 and were seven minutes away from getting back there in 2012 in spite of a myriad of injuries. He then acted accordingly during the '12 offseason by trading to add pieces. Because of injuries and some underperformance, it didn't work out. It happens.

He then tried to trade for Love this summer, but Cleveland got the No. 1 pick and the rest is history. Once again, it happens.

Seems to me there has been more bad luck than anything else.

We are in year two of the rebuild. I think we should wait at least another year or two before we declare anything a "failure."

[FeedReed]

they gave rondo 21 games to be a leader of the team. he deserved better than that. wish ainge could've been traded instead, stevens can go too.

[jfs1000d]

Guys, Rondo's difficult to deal with. How much evidence do we need?

His shot regressed, he didn't play hard every night.

That's the truth.

The other truth? He's a talented player, when motivated, can wreck a game with his unique skills.

He's great on the Mavericks, but what Rondo is is an ultra talented eccentric. There comes a point when I want consistency over brilliance.

Part of being a great player is being consistently great. Rondo never was that. You can't have some of the games he had and be considered a dominant player.

[jfs1000d]

they gave rondo 21 games to be a leader of the team. he deserved better than that. wish ainge could've been traded instead, stevens can go too.

You can put your stock in a mercurial player. I will take Ainge's track record as well as Stevens' coaching talent over a moody player any day.

[humblebum]

A long term perspective is order here. This team is 176-175 since Xmas 2009. That's 5 years of .500.

It's the internet, but this infuriated me.

Embarrassing cherrypicking, with a full season of tanking post-big 3 and an appearance in the NBA Finals where the Celtics were up double digits late in Game 7 to boot. Also, throw an ACL tear and a heart condition into the mix as well.

Sorry about that, thought it was an interesting perspective to consider. And I actually screwed up the number, it was actually 197-196 since Xmas 2009.

I'm familiar with all the conditionals, the injuries, the fact that we actually played like champions for parts of the 2010 and 2012 seasons and tanked most of 2014, but still it's a helpful reminder that thru all that we've really been hanging on to an image that may or may not be that accurate. In that way, it helps me get over losing Rondo for peanuts.

In another way, it shows the level of failure Danny has engaged in. Draft picks will hit and miss but what gets me is that there has been no long term plan and the things sold to us as long term moves (i.e., Jeff Green trade, building with Rondo), just weren't.

I don't think Ainge has ever stated that there was a long term plan.

Ainge has always talked about being open to discussing all possibilities and remaining flexible in order to pursue whatever opportunities presented themselves.

I just think people have deluded themselves into believing in a Rondo led renaissance here in Boston. I fell into this line of thinking for a little while as well.

The long-term plan is just to get good basketball players here and let Stevens coach em up. Stay flexible and ready to pounce on opportunities as they arise.

[jfs1000d]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

Guys found there way here to play for Doc to play with KG. Guys talked about the chance to play with Paul and Ray. Guys tool less to get here and to stay here. Now to be fair there was no real commitment from the organization to Rondo or Rondo to the organization. There was always a tension and Rondo was always getting dangled in trade rumors but there is a reason why.

The really frustrating part here is that people that are upset about this deal aren't acknowledging how bad Rondo is playing. He is posting the worst PER since his rookie season and that is only slightly worse the last year. It isn't my favorite stat but their is a big difference between 15 and 19 or 20. If I proposed the idea of trading for Deron Williams people would laugh at the idea but at the same time are wailing about the fact that the team is going to bail on making the same mistake.

Bingo. Wasn't playing great. Hadn't for a very long time. I just don't think at his current level of play that we aren't really going to miss him that much. The great Rondo? We have no one even capable of doing that on the floor.

[ryaningf]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

Right.

Sully's making it seem like Rondo was both player and GM, as if Danny has no culpability here.

Danny deserves props for getting this team to the top of the mountain, but his failure in keeping them near the top deserves some notice as well. It's actually easier to stay near the top than it is to reach the top in the first place, as the Spurs and Mavs have shown. What marks both of those organizations is that they showed loyalty to their players and made shrewd trade and free agency decisions. Sure, it all started with the draft, but both teams have had ample opportunities to tear down and rebuild since 2006, in fact both teams were thought to be dumb not to tear down and rebuild, but both teams stuck to their guns and retooled and both appear to have made the right choices.

Meanwhile, we jerk our guys around with trade rumors and eventual trades, made shortsighted dumb free agent signings, and then put all our eggs in the basket of picks and lotto balls and wonder why nobody wants to play for us.

[Ben-N1ce]

When Love fell through and they drafted Smart this was a foregone conclusion. I just don't get all the backlash about losing Rondo when he wasn't even making the team better.

[jfs1000d]

Rondo post ACL

In 52 games is shooting 40 percent from the floor and below 60 percent from foul line and averaging less than 10 points a game. He can't shoot or finish.

That's not a good basketball player.

He brings great creativity passing, is a triple-double machine (overrated stat, many of those rebounds he fights with his teammates) and can really make lives difficult.

But, scoring is the name of the game. And, he doesn't do it at an acceptable NBA level.

You have to weigh the superior other skills -- and they are off the charts -- to find a reason to even play him.

[jfs1000d]

When Love fell through and they drafted Smart this was a foregone conclusion. I just don't get all the backlash about losing Rondo when he wasn't even making the team better.

There's a segment of the fanbase that has argued on rondo's behalf for so long that they are stuck in that argument. People don't like to admit they were wrong.

Rondo only worked because of KG/Ray and Paul. People hated hearing that. But, he needs great players around him to flourish.

[Valid]

This is a mistaken belief. Rondo was not drawing players here. Not one player has signed with the Celtics to play with Rondo.

I am sure that had nothing to do with limited cap space and GM's lack of enthusiasm over what the Celtics had to offer.

Right.

Sully's making it seem like Rondo was both player and GM, as if Danny has no culpability here.

Danny deserves props for getting this team to the top of the mountain, but his failure in keeping them near the top deserves some notice as well. It's actually easier to stay near the top than it is to reach the top in the first place, as the Spurs and Mavs have shown. What marks both of those organizations is that they showed loyalty to their players and made shrewd trade and free agency decisions. Sure, it all started with the draft, but both teams have had ample opportunities to tear down and rebuild since 2006, in fact both teams were thought to be dumb not to tear down and rebuild, but both teams stuck to their guns and retooled and both appear to have made the right choices.

Meanwhile, we jerk our guys around with trade rumors and eventual trades, made shortsighted dumb free agent signings, and then put all our eggs in the basket of picks and lotto balls and wonder why nobody wants to play for us.

I mean, it helps when you have Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki.

And what "shrewd" free agency moves has Dallas really made? Letting Tyson Chandler walk after 2011? Signing Chris Kaman and Vince Carter? Signing Chandler Parsons to a deal that would make most of us cringe, partly just to stick it to Daryl Morey?

For all of the talk about how Dallas has stayed "near the top," they have won one title and have been to two finals since 2006. Guess what? We have done that since 2008.

The Spurs are in a class of their own. No organization in professional sports has been as efficient as them the past 15 years.

[BannersOnly]

The Rondo haters are in for a big dose of REALITY when they see just how effin good Rondo truly is down in Dallas now that he has LEGIT talent to play with. It's just like all the idiots who think Melo sucks because the Knicks stink. Please. Don't blame Rondo, blame Ainge for failing to get any other talent for Rondo to play with. Watch him light it the EFF UP down in Dallas. I'll be sitting at home on my couch laughing my ass off.