Do we really want to pay Rondo?

[jfs1000d]

We talk like Rondo's extension is a no brainer. I am not so sure we don't just let him play out his contract this year, and perhaps even pull a Ben Gordon on him and let him test out restricted free agency in 2010 and unrestricted in 2011.

I like Rondo, and at his current salary he is an incredible player. But, we are talking about an extension in excess of $10 million for 5 years. He will essentially replace Ray Allen's salary slot.

I think he is terrific, but I just can't give Rondo that kind of extension. He is still a flawed jump shooter and isn't a great finisher. Surely, he is a very good player, but giving him a contract extension far above the MLE to me is suicide for this franchise.

This is a big problem for Ainge. What's Rondo worth? Six years 42 million I do. 6 years $60 hampers this franchise longterm. Rondo isn't even an all-star player yet, and as he showed against the Magic, can disappear at times inexplicably.

I would worry about this contract, and to be honest,wait and see him for another year before he gets the big extension. Even let him be unrestricted. He isn't making a ton of money if he is on the market in 2010.

If we need Ray to expire to sign Rondo to a big deal, we will rue the day of that contract.

I think Rondo is essential,and a winning player. But, he isn't a star in the cp3 mode, and we got to be careful about paying him money when he isn't a dominant player.

I am not saying don't sign him, but don't just throw money recklessly at him. This signing of Rondo should be delayed as long as possible to make sure he is worth it.

[SonicYouth34]

Why wouldn't we want to pay him? He's already a top 7 PG in the league and has the potential to be among the best. I don't think we should overpay, but we need him

[BillessuR6]

I am worried if he has the mindset to be an elite PG in this league. It seems that he has a difficult personality in a way. His mood swings are affecting his play greatly...

[Mahoney_jr]

I am worried if he has the mindset to be an elite PG in this league. It seems that he has a difficult personality in a way. His mood swings are affecting his play greatly...

Good short post I agree completely and don't like all the all-star or top-5-pg talk. Rondo should have the mindset of a role player. Additionally he needs to remain focused for his complete playing time.

On topic: Rondo is worth up to 60/6. But I'd have problems with a contract Deng or Iggy got. That's not the money Rondo should get.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I think we need to resign him, though...we spent the better part of 15 years looking for a true PG and now we have one...

[spf211]

If Rondo could get a Al Jefferson type deal, around $10 million per for 5-6, that would be best.

Realistically, by the end of his next contract, the Celtics are going to need Rondo to be that "All-Star" top point guard player because they likely won't have Pierce, Allen and/or Garnett by that time.

Like it or not, look at the current roster -- Rondo is the highest ceiling player that the Celtics have. Nor will the Celtics be in position to draft a better player within the next 2-3 years. The longer Boston waits to sign him, the more this fact will be emphasized. They should get the extension done this summer.

[cloverleaf]

Yep, it's good for Rondo and good for the C's to get an extension done this summer. The economy has depressed prices for basketball players and we're not getting as good a pg anywhere else. If they can lock him in somewhere between $5 and $10 Danny move on to finagling more and bigger talent for the front court. Wings are easier to pick up, especially where the C's are drafting, and they're already nurturing young talent there from last year's draft.

[ddb]

yes, we should pay for Rondo. He's in incredible young player. Don't forget he's only 23 years old! He's Tony Parker with better defense/rebounding and less of a J. But he can work on the J and become a better player then Tony Parker. He's already light years ahead of TP rebounding and defending.

[Tricky Ricky]

YES!!!

[gocelts]

Did Rondo make the AllStar game? Inconsistantcy and poor shooting is not the recipee for a future HOF. Guys, I like Rondo.....and hes nice player with the big three, but all this top five, allstar talk is insane homerism. I say we try and trade him while value is high and get a real allstar.

[elrod enchilada]

hey, Rondo doubters, step back for a second and take a deep breath. Rondo played fabulously in the Chicago series, and played spottily in the Orlando series. he is 23, younger than Larry was in his rookie year. Most great point guards, Chris Paul, Magic and Isiah Thiomas excepting, take until they are 25 to be really effective: Payton, Kidd, Stockton, Billups.

"What Rondo cannot do he can learn, what he can do cannot be taught." JoJo White said that.

Rondo in 14 playoff games, in which he played well and played poorly, so it is a pretty representative sample, averaged 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 10 apg, 2.5 spg.

Only one NBA player has ever put up those numbers for a season: Oscar Robertson, in an era when there were 20 more shots per game so plenty more rebounds and assists to go around.

And Rondo has enormous room for improvement. Once he shoots better, and makes free throws, and finishes with his left hand, he will have a chance to be a genuine superstar.

Rondo is a very special talent. We can wait and sign him in 2010 as far as I am concerned. He will be restricted then. But we sign him, and thank our lucky stars we have him.

[UGA Hayes]

Man do you hate Rondo. He had a excellent playoffs and you still can't help yourself.

[Celtsfan1980]

I'd wait personally. If he shows some improvement as I expect him to, I'd start at $9 million with 10% raises. A team option in the fourth season. If a team is willing to go much higher, I'd just let him go. Give Eddie House and the other player they use the MLE for 10% raises and use the MLE on a point guard. From what I've read, he didn't even touch a basketball last Summer. I think these were his own words. He should have let his injury heal a bit and spent the remainder of the Summer practicing his jumper. He has potential to be great but if he doesn't have the desire he's not worth the money he'd be asking for.

[manou]

He's Tony Parker with better defense/rebounding and less of a J. But he can work on the J and become a better player then Tony Parker. He's already light years ahead of TP rebounding and defending.

Rondo becoming an allnba player? I'm not sold on that. TP is only 26 himself, and look what he's doing on offense: he's becoming a nightmare for the opponents. Mavs couldn't stop him, and he certainly did his share against them in the PO. Can Rondo exceed that? not sure.

I really don't think Rondo and TP can be compared, they are totallly different players in my mind.

Also for salary comparisons, TP signed 5 years ago (he was 21-22) an extension worth 66 millions for 6 years, and he certainly wasn't putting the numbers he does now. I suppose that's what Cs have to pay Rondo?

[jfs1000d]

If you think Rondo is truly an all-star anda top 5 PG, then by all means pay him.

But, he needs to have a better jumper and he needs to finish better. That tear drop isn't a great shot. Rondo is nothing like Tony Parker going to the rim.

Did we see the Orlando series?

Rondo had to be removed from the floor at times because he was an offensive liability.

The truth is Rondo is an unusual player who, if not game planned against, can destroy you.

But let's not fool ourselves with stats. Rondo killed the Celtics in the Orlando series with his lack of aggressiveness, inability to be a consistent offensive threat and general careless play. Also, his defense was abysmal against the Magic.

A PG who struggles to shoot, finish at the rim and is a poor free throw shooter really worth $60 million?

The guy does things that are great. Flat out special and when going good unguardable. But, right now, because his weaknesses are so great, he is a role player. Let's be careful about paying him star money.

I love Rondo. But, he is not a all-star you build around.

[tombattor]

If Rondo is looking for $10+ million/yr, then we gotta let him go. He's a good athlete and I like him as our PG, but he's got some serious weaknesses. The reason he gets a lot of layups is because Ray and Paul draw so much of the attention that opposing teams essentially let him get those shots. In fact, virtually every shot he takes is uncontested right now.

Unless I see some serious improvement on offense, he'll always be a liability and without guys like Paul and Ray, he will be exposed. Not that he already hasn't been...

One more thing... I think at this point, Rondo's defense is pretty overrated too. He gets a lot of steals and some highlights, but his on-the-ball defense can still use a lot of work. He's definitely a good defender, but not the defensive specialist some people are making him out to be.

[SichtingLives]

It's pretty simple. Let Rondo go and this franchise is buried face down in the dirt for the next 15 years. Talking of a "real" all-star? Spit a name or shut it down with that nonsense, no such thing is on the horizon. And splitting hairs over a few bucks here/there?

Think big picture and the head will surely displace from the posterior quite smoothly. Ask yourself what Rondo means to this franchise's possibility for long term success. Than ask yourself what chance Perk/Glen Davis has of being the leader of this team, and what realistic shot there is that Bill Walker will ever be 1/10 of Paul Pierce in his prime.

I know people are bummed but there's no need for these rediculous threads. Of course we want to pay Rondo. Do we really want to give a $*** about the lottery draft?

[MVP16]

It's funny when people say that if Rondo wants more then X then we have to let him go. Of course he wants the max, but is another team going to offer that to him? Right now, there are only 2 pgs in the league who will make the max next year - Chris Paul and Deron Williams. The you figure in the fact that there are a lot of good pgs in the league other then those 2 - Devin Harris, Jose Calderon, Andre Miller, Derrick Rose, Mo Williams, Rodney Stuckey, Raymond Felton, DJ Augustin, Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas, Aaron Brooks, Mike Conley, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook, Baron Davis and Steve Nash. Add to that the fact that this year is a pg heavy draft - Ricky Rubio, Ty Lawson, Jonny Flynn, Eric Maynor, Stephen Curry.

The point is that the market for pgs is horrible. Almost every team has a franchise pg, a pg who they are paying starter money or a young pg who they believe will be a starter down the line. Rondo is probably worth about 5/50 right now. Of course if he doesn't sign an extension this summer and comes back next year with more consistency and a better jumper he could get more then that next summer.

[gocelts]

Man do you hate Rondo. He had a excellent playoffs and you still can't help yourself.

I dont hate him. I truly do not. Still pissed about Sunday.....Suggesting we trade him for an allstar say an Armere or JJ (just throwing random names here), shouldnt be taken as disrespect.

With that said....you're asking for it....He did not have an excellent playoffs.

He left his man and assignments open over and over and over again in both series.

He's still a terrible jump shooter. So bad that Orlando was able to go into 4 on 5 mode when we had the ball allowing them double Pierce and Ray at will.

HOW MANY ALLSTARS ARE LEFT WIDE OPEN BY THE OTHER TEAM IN THE PLAYOFFS????????

Yes, he had a nice dunk on Howard. Awsome. Impressive. I jumped out of my seat when that happened.

With evey great play, how many times would be have the ball wide open 10 feet away from the basket just to and pass it back out to the three point line? He is by far the most inconsistant NBA player I have ever been forced to root for, and i fear his newly aquired "cult all star" status may be the worst thing for this dudes career if he doesnt improve.

All and all i think rondo is a wonderfull piece of our staring line up. Great defender, knows the system, and still has potential...however signing Rondo to the max is a huge risk.

Rondo is a guy you can build with..not AROUND.













P.S.- For all those worried about the future, please note that the next Rondo is only a Danny Ainge midround draft pick away!!!
P.S.S.- By the way, Rondo can not shoot free throws either. LOL

[forever35]

I think Rondo is essential,and a winning player. But, he isn't a star in the cp3 mode, and we got to be careful about paying him money when he isn't a dominant player.

Where was the great cp3 this year... The Hornets were a huge favorite to win it this year. .. They even got our boy Poesy to inject some championship swagger...Did the injury bug hit them like it hit the c's... Noooo... What did they accomplish.... Nada.... Spanked right out of the 1st round... Didn't we beat them twice this year.... Ummm....yeah.... cp3's star didn't shine bright enough those 2 games...

Rondo missed averaging a triple double by one board against Chi... Unfortunately we know what happened after that.... But our injuries where huge... Without him when KG and Powe went down we would be horrendous.... The big 3 even know how important he is.... Don't you pay attention when the Big 3 speak jfs1000d!!!!!!