Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
After this season, Rondo will have the necessary eligibility — eight years in the league, four with one team — to qualify for a rare no-trade clause. That power to dictate the team he plays for could be a key negotiating item when he inks his next deal, something that could go a long way toward giving him his much-desired peace of mind.
Right now, that does not exist for Rondo. The trade rumors that disappeared Thursday will come roaring back in June. The same thing will happen during the 2014-15 season. All Rondo got with Thursday’s deadline passing is a three-month respite from the constant speculation.
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“It gets annoying at times,” admitted Rondo. “It’s been like that the last eight years, though. It’s what I do for a living. It’s not who I am. I play basketball for a living, for the time being. I’ll be 28 [Saturday]. I have a long life to live. I have a lot of things going on outside of basketball for me right now and it’s part of what happens when you’re an NBA player.”
“You can’t worry about stuff you can’t control, you know? Everybody’s situation is different,” Rondo said. “I can’t worry about Jeff (Green) being traded, because it’s out of my control. He can’t worry about if I get traded. That’s just part of the game. It’s not the first trades that a lot of these guys have been through. We’ve all been through them, and when that time comes, it comes.”
But, as captain and a player of stature, he can seek to keep their heads on straight, right?
“I mean, you can say those things, but at the end of the day when you go home and sleep at night, it may be different for certain guys,” Rondo said. “So I can tell Joel (Anthony) until he’s blue in the face to not worry about it, but if that’s what he thinks mentally, that things might happen, then that’s what it is.”
We’re lucky Rajon Rondo is a cyborg. A mere human would not be able to deal with the perpetual trade rumors and nonsensical opinions excreted by many in the local media.
You can bet your life Rondo will push hard for a full no-trade clause in his next contract. Only four players, all legends, have such clauses; Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki. (ESPN’s Marc Stein examines all the no-trade scenarios under the CBA).
I’m not sure Rondo will get the no-trade clause, in fact, I doubt he will. But I know stability and comfort will carry the same weight as money for Rondo when he negotiates his next contract.
Bow tie and sweater. That’s the fashion statement I need to make.
Related links: ESPN – TrueBoston: Rondo’s future
On Page 2, MarShon Brooks exacts revenge on the Celtics.
After a few of his scoring drives to the basket late Friday night, the guard looked at the Celtics bench, at his former coach and teammates, and he smiled.
He was paying back a team that traded him away to Golden State last month. He was earning revenge against a club that never gave him much of a chance, instead keeping the former Providence College standout glued to the bench.
Brooks, who was making his Lakers debut after being traded from Golden State on Wednesday, didn’t gloat after scoring 10 of his 14 points in the game-deciding fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 101-92 win over Boston at Staples Center.
“You know what, man, a lot of people think I should be mad at the Boston Celtics,” Brooks said after the game, sitting in his locker. “But I guarantee you, there’s no one happier for me than [Celtics coach] Brad Stevens and [Celtics assistant] Jay Larranaga.” Stevens saw Brooks stay late to get up shots at the Celtics’ practice facility in Waltham, to play Larranaga in spirited games of one-on-one, even on off-days.
Good for MarShon. I wish the former PC Friar nothing but the best. Maybe someday he’ll fulfill his potential. He’s now played for 4 teams in 3 years.
After last night’s loss to LA, the Celtics now own the 5th worst record in the NBA.
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – Lakers sink Celtics | Best of Simmons calling Celtics/LA | Simmons: No Durant in this year’s draft | Green hitting shots away from home | Ainge: 2014 draft overrated from beginning | Brooks makes most of playing time | ESPN Boston – Rapid Reaction: Lakers 101 – Celtics 92 | Brooks gets his chance | Herald – Lakers rally late to beat Celtics
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