Thread: Rondo?
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Old 12-18-2014, 12:52 PM   #100
jthig32
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Originally Posted by grndmstr_c View Post
Just a thought on the Rondo and Ellis both needing the ball in their hands to be effective thing…Rondo had a ton of success with Pierce, and Pierce very much an on-ball kind of player. Now, there is the stuff about Ray and Rondo out there, but IMO as an outside observer that Reggie Miller type role that Ray Allen slid into as Rondo was coming into his own was the best thing for Ray and the C's (on the court, anyway).

Monta's terrific with the ball, but he's far more decisive than your typical Melo-esque ball stopper, and I do think he can play off the ball (just not when the guy handling the ball is a shoot-first PG like Jennings). He's got some areas of the floor where he can spot up effectively, and if he catches the ball in space and on the move it's nearly impossible to stop him getting what he wants. And Rondo is as good as it gets passing to cutters and setting guys up when they come open off screens. Every other player in the Mavs' starting lineup, Monta included, would benefit from his ability in that regard, IMO.

The lack of shooting with Rondo would be more of a concern. I don't think there's any sugar-coating that can be done there, and I don't expect him to follow in Kidd's footsteps by all of a sudden developing range. The loss of Brandan's second unit offense would also hurt. But the Mavs are in such bad shape at starting PG, and Rondo would be such a massive upgrade over Jameer in every respect other than shooting, that I don't see how it would make sense to pass up a trade for Rondo at this point unless Boston's asking price on picks was unreasonable, or the conversations with Rondo and Duffy about the prospects of Rondo sticking with the Mavs after this season weren't going well.
This is a great, great post. Very compelling point about difference between Rondo and Jennings.

I was pretty skeptical on this subject even before these rumors broke last night. But I'm completely on board for three primary reasons:

1. I think this is quite possibly the *only* plausible move that has a chance to improve the Mavs' defense and rebounding enough to be a contender. The other four pieces of the Mavs starting lineup are the core. And they are what they are. If you can't get Rondo or someone like him, I think you're facing the possibility of have to break up the core (likely Monta) to improve upon this team any further.

2. Tyson's level of play this season means he'd going to get another major contract this offseason. ~15Mil a year, I would expect. Once that happens, the Mavs are effectively out of cap space. Because of that, I expect the Mavs to operate as an over the cap team this season and for the foreseeable future. That means that you're back to being limited to exceptions and trades to improve this team. Acquiring a quality player with Bird rights is a huge piece of upgrading when you're over the cap.

3. I think Brandan Wright is going to be offered a larger role somewhere else next year. If that happens, you lose him for nothing and have no salary cap space to replace him. That makes moving him for a controllable asset this season very attractive.

Having said all that, perhaps the most concerning part of this trade is that it leaves the Mavs with a gaping hole at backup Center and very little assets to go get one.

I wonder if they're pondering moving Devin for a solution there.
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Last edited by jthig32; 12-18-2014 at 12:53 PM.
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