Rondo makes Mavericks title contenders

After all the rumors, Rajon Rondo is officially switching teams. The Dallas Mavericks have acquired the four-time All-Star from the Boston Celtics. This is a risky move, since Rondo does not have to resign after the season. Nevertheless, it is a move that could propel the Mavericks to the top of the Western Conference.

The Western Conference is nothing short of stacked, but the Mavericks have remained competitive. At 19-8, the Mavs have found ways to win through their offense. Dallas scored 110.1 PPG, which ranks first in the NBA, however, they let up 102.7 PPG, 24^th in the association.

Now, plug in Rondo. Known for being a liability on offense, Rondo will not be expected to do the scoring on this high-power Mavs offense but provide the defensive stability the team needs. Rondo is a pesky defender, averaging just under 1.7 steals-per-game. In a conference loaded with point-guard talent (Curry, Parker, Lillard, Conley to name a few), Rondo can help limit the production of these talented players.

Playing on a rebuilding Celtics squad, Rondo has not been the same player he was during the Celtics championship runs. His attitude should change coming to one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. Plug in Rondo with Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tyson Chandler, and the Mavericks have one of, if not the best starting five. With his high assist mark, which ranks first, Rondo won’t steal the thunder from the scorers while creating more chances than Jameer Nelson.

With teams like Golden State and Memphis playing almost flawless basketball, the Mavericks still have a strong competition for claiming the top seed in the West. As the six seed, the Mavs are just a game out of home-court advantage. The Western Conference will continue to be a bloodbath, but the Mavs may have found the perfect fit to complete their roster. Losing Brandon Wright will certainly hurt their bench, but the Mavericks roster is now fit for a celebration in late June.