There can be
endless debate about who the best point guard in the NBA is, but it cannot be
argued that Rajon Rondo is one of the best in the game. Since 2012, the
ex-Boston Celtic point guard has averaged 11.7 points, 10.6 assists, 6 rebounds
and 1.6 steals per game. In that span he has only played in 91 games, but he’s
managed to record 9 triple-doubles. The 28-year-old veteran point guard may be
an injury risk, but the Dallas Mavericks took the leap of faith.
It’s been known
for a while that the Celtics were shopping Rondo, and it was only a matter of
time before a viable suitor showed up. The Mavericks proved to be just that,
and last week the deal was etched into stone.
The Mavericks
agreed to send three players to Boston: former first round pick Brandan Wright,
fellow forward Jae Crowder and veteran point guard Jameer Nelson. In addition
to that, the Celtics acquired a conditional first-round pick in 2015, a second
rounder in 2016, and a $12.9 million trade exception.
In return, the
Mavs scooped up Rondo and the 45th pick in this year’s draft,
forward Dwight Powell. This begs the question, who are the winners and losers
of this trade?
Obviously, the
Mavericks won. They got the star point guard and game manager that they’ve been
looking for, and didn’t give up any integral pieces. Brandan Wright will be the
biggest immediate loss, as he was a nice rim protector coming off the bench.
The 6-year big man out of North Carolina was averaging almost 9 points and 4
boards in just 19 minutes a game, and was blocking 1.6 shots per contest. This
leaves Tyson Chandler as the sole rim-protector in their defense, which could
pose an issue when the second unit comes in.
But that doesn’t
threaten the Mavs in the grand scheme of things. They have a loaded starting
lineup now, with valuable bench players. Rondo will start alongsided Monta
Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler. The Mavs have Devin
Harris, J.J. Barea, Al-Farouq Aminu and Richard Jefferson coming off the bench.
It’s not the strongest second unit, but it doesn’t need to be.
Rondo is adding
championship experience to a team who still has 3 players from their 2011
Finals victory (Barea, Chandler, and Nowitzki). The chemistry will come
quickly, and Rondo’s basketball IQ along with his vast skillset
will make this team an instant contender.
I’ve heard some
people saying the Celtics lost, but that couldn’t be less true. They did what
they’ve been trying to accomplish: dump everyone from their championship
roster, start fresh with young players and draft picks. Yes, Jameer Nelson is
32. But they will use him to teach Avery Bradley, Phil Pressey, and Marcus
Smart how to run an offense.
The Celtics
roster has an average age of 25.3, the fifth youngest in the NBA. This sets
them up for the future, for which they already have a solid foundation.
This trade was
nearly perfect in every way: it provided equal compensation for equal benefit
to both sides.
But this trade
doesn’t stop here… I haven’t touched upon the losers of this trade.
The entire
Western conference lost in this deal (except Dallas of course). Now that Dallas
poses this great of a threat, everyone in the West is at risk. Dirk doesn’t
have to be the game manager in the fourth quarter anymore. With Rondo present,
Dirk can spot up, post up, and play his game. Monta Ellis will still be able to
create shots for himself, but he also has someone creating them for him now.
Parsons is in the same boat as Ellis, and Chandler will work the pick and roll.
For an offense that was already scoring the most in the NBA, they just got a
whole lot more lethal.
But the biggest
loser in this trade is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They had their chance to deal
Westbrook for Rondo, which would have been the blockbuster deal of the century.
It would have opened up so many doors for both sides. But if you ask me, the
Thunder will never win a championship with Westbrook and KD sharing the
scoring. They are simply following their stats, trying to keep up with them.
Russ may be averaging 7.2 assists per game, but it doesn’t matter. In the big
picture, the Thunder can’t get by the Spurs, Clippers, and now the Grizzlies,
Warriors, and presumably the Mavericks. Missing out on the Rondo opportunity is
what makes them the biggest losers of this deal.
Follow me on
Twitter @Coochigross and my co-author @BSzabo24 to see regular updates on this
blog.
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