It appears Danny Ainge and Rajon Rondo's agent are having a tough time determining just how much the young point guard is worth.
Here's a look at what other point guards, statistically better and worse, are making (I'm excluding Derrick Rose and Rodney Stuckey since they're still trapped in rookie contracts):
- Chris Paul: $4.5 million in 08/09, $13 million in 09/10 (4 yrs, $68 million)
- Deron Williams: $5 million in 08/09, $13 million in 09/10 (4 yrs, $68 million)
- Steve Nash: $12 million in 08/09, $13 million in 09/10 (5 yrs, $65 million)
- Mike Bibby: $14 million in 08/09, UFA (7 yrs, $80.5 million)
- Tony Parker: $11 million in 08/09, $12 million in 09/10 (6 yrs, $66 million)
- Mo Williams: $8 million in 08/09, $8 million in 09/10 (6 yrs, $51.5 million)
- Andre Miller: $10 million in 08/09, UFA (6 yrs, $51 million)
- Jose Calderon: $7 million in 08/09, $8 million in 09/10 (estimated 6 yrs, $50 million)
- T.J. Ford: $8 million in 08/09, $8 million in 09/10 (3 yrs, $33 million)
- Jameer Nelson: $7 million in 08/09, $8 million in 09/10 (5 yrs, $30 million)
It's fair to say that Rondo doesn't deserve a max contract like Paul, Williams and Nash. With their best days behind them, Bibby and Miller won't see that kind of money ($10+ million) ever again.
Talentwise, I believe Rondo's equal to, if not better than Calderon, Ford, Nelson and Williams. He's a notch below (an underpaid) Parker.
Taking into account the contracts listed above and using a top secret, complex mathematical formula, I believe a fair deal for Rondo is….drum-roll please….5 yrs, $58 million.
Remember this, he'll be 28 years old when that deal expires meaning there's time for a max deal.
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