Do you or have you ever cheered for the rockets? We've had some great posters over the years that have been fans of other teams. One guy from Memphis that really knew his stuff. Another from Phoenix. Great fan of the game. You know, you don't remind me of either. Hmmm....
Reports are saying that the Sugar Land Skeeters are now in the lead for Rondo through a three way trade with Tracy McGrady again going to the Knicks.
One of the two of you is right. Just think about that for a split second and you'll realize the genius in that statement is missing.
If it is true that Boston is seeking 2 high first round picks for Rondo then he's simply not going to be traded. Teams aren't trading lottery picks this year...period. Look who controls the lottery picks. Philly - they're not trading their lottery pick nor the Pelies pick (at least not until draft order is established at the lottery) Boston - they've got their own pick Nuggets - they control their pick and the Knicks pick. They ain't trading either one for Rondo Minnesota - they ain't trading their pick for Rondo. Pelies - Philly controls their pick if it is outside the top 5. And if it is in the top 5 Pels aren't trading it. Not to mention they're already overloaded on the perimeter. Cavs? - Kyrie...nope, not even the Bulls pick which won't be a lottery pick. Orlando? - interesting case here. I seriously doubt they'd be interested in Rondo even though they do need a PG. But perhaps they'd be willing to part with their pick. Do you really think they'd part with it unprotected for like 1-10? Milwaukee? - yep, they need a PG. Twould be the stupidest move they ever made. Absolutely NO WAY Rondo hangs around there after next season. At the cost of a shot at Wiggins/Parker????? Lakers? - Would they give up their pick for Rondo if they could get a deal done. Perhaps Rondo and KHump to Lakers for Pau and #1??? Basically giving up a shot at Wiggins or Parker??? I can't see it. Detroit - they'd trade their pick and guess what...they'd go on a big time roll right out of the lottery and into the playoffs. So basically right now nobody is going to be willing to give up that top pick. Now, after the lottery and draft order is established, THEN perhaps you could find a lower echelon lottery team willing to give up a 10-14 pick for Rondo along with future considerations. However that means that Detroit or Sacramento or the Lakers are going to have to fall into that 10-14 range because those are the teams most likely willing to part with a pick at that point. And you may have to even remove Sacramento from the discussion if the rumor is true that Rondo would not re-sign there. Ainge knows that trade market for Rondo is limited. He also knows Rondo's trade value starts to decay the minute the season ends. Rondo will be a 1-year guy so the only teams that will be willing to give any kind of substantial assets for him at that point are teams that need a PG upgrade (few) and are good enough to gamble on Rondo re-signing there (even fewer teams). The odds of Ainge getting 2 high picks for Rondo before his contract expires are basically nil.
Yes, I'm a Rockets fan, and I have faith that even if there is some talk going on that Morey isn't foolish enough to trade away the team's future for a relic of Boston's past.
Nice analysis, but I'd argue one little point. Minnesota might be willing to part with their first for Rondo. He could help facilitate without Rubioing things up and their defense is bolstered by the move. They're 6 games out from 8th place and Memphis just lost Gasol. I think they might be tempted to make a go at it with Rondo/Love. I might be missing something here, but the rest of your stuff seemed spotless. Nice read.
I'd give them anyone not named Howard, Parsons or Harden for Rondo. We have to keep the core together for more than a few months to see what we truly have and Rondo is NOT a once in a lifetime player that you blow up the core for...not even close... If Boston doesn't like our offer then walk away. Let them shop elsewhere or keep him. Boston may not feel like they are getting full value with what we have left but really...when does a team ever get full value when trading away their best player...and this one is coming off an injury. The list is short of teams that are interested and if someone wants to pay more then let them.
Your post is logical but the basic premise is that Ainge has to set the bar somewhere. Ridiculous or not, teams know they need to give that kind of package or a package of similar value in order to get Rondo. It might just be a mid-to-late 1st Rounder this year and an unprotected 1st Rounder in 2016 or 2017...which is still a pretty good haul for Rondo considering Ainge doesn't have to take back any cap-killing salaries. Of course, if a package with Chandler Parsons comes up I'd consider that comparable to getting two 1st rounders in return as you have a legit player you can build around.
Never seen a 27 year old relic. Tell me what that looks like. Parsons has one year left. He's pretty good, but not great. And he's two years away from being a relic. Rondo was great before the injury. I watched some games and he has some cobwebs in his game, but the things that make him great are not gone, vision, ball handling and smart defense. Lots of people come back from knee injuries, so this is a gamble between keeping a good to mediocre player for a potentially great player or not making a move. We can lose Parsons or overpay him. You risk both by keeping him. Rondo could be done even if he looks alright. They're both risks. Which one has higher upside?
@sam_amick Rockets one of many teams wanting Dunleavy, but Bulls value him. Chicago has nothing in the works elsewhere yet, either, I'm told.
Just to clear that up because people often get it wrong The nuggets have the right to the best pick out of their own or the Knicks 1st rounder. The worst of those picks will go to the magic
A 27 year old relic looks exactly like Rondo, a player who derives almost all of his basketball value from his athleticism who is coming off of a major knee injury, since he can't shoot the ball at an NBA level he's not going to age well at all and we don't know if he'll ever get his athleticism back at all. Even if he managed to make a full recovery, Rondo is a poor fit for the team unless the Rockets are going to completely change their offensive philosophy because Rondo is incapable of playing off the ball. He needs to control the ball at all times in order to have any value on offense whatsoever and that's just not how the Rockets play. As for Parsons, there is this crazy thing called Bird rights. It's a new thing, they just started it. It's where you can go over the cap to re-sign your own players. It's pretty cool, you should look into it.