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.
Larry (St. Claire Shores, Mich.): If Rajon Rondo wants to be traded, should the Pistons go for him? If so, would it be a good trade to send Greg Monroe, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and D.J. Augustin for Rondo and Tyler Zeller?
If Rondo and Monroe are taken as known commodities, then the swing factor in deciding the merits of this trade come down to how high you believe Caldwell-Pope’s ceiling really is. I get the sense Van Gundy thinks it’s pretty high. Boston, for its part, hasn’t fully committed to a rebuilding mode and Danny Ainge has been vague about his intentions. If they put Rondo on the market, I’d have to think an offer of Monroe and Caldwell-Pope would prove a powerful attraction.
Buk (Bangkok, Thailand): Monroe and Jennings for Rondo. Who says no?
As for who says no … Boston drafted Marcus Smart and likes Phil Pressey, by all accounts, and Avery Bradley can also play point guard and might wind up doing so if James Young wins minutes at shooting guard to go with Marcus Thornton. Even if Danny Ainge really likes Brandon Jennings, I’m not sure he’d want to take on that much more in salary at that position when he would seem to have enough there now.
First off, the mere thought of Brandon Jennings in a Celtics uniform makes my skin scrawl. I don’t like anything about him or his game.
The point of this blog isn’t to debit the merits of a trade with the Pistons (Greg Monroe is a talented player but is he worth near max money?), but show how other fans/bloggers perceive Rajon Rondo.
Fact… they want him.
Read this glowing take on Rondo from Space City Scoop – a Rockets blog:
For all Rondo’s deficiencies as a player, he does one thing indisputably: makes his teammates better. Rondo is one of the best pure distributors in the game, and his jump shot is nowhere near as horrendous as portrayed by some NBA know-it-alls. Moreover, with supremely talented athletes, a great jumper isn’t needed.
Defensively, Rondo would be the pest he always has been. For all that has been made of Patrick Beverley’s defensive abilities, Rondo is one of the best at playing passing lanes in the Association. He led the league in thefts in 2009-10 and has averaged nearly two steals per game over his career.
His ability to command an offense has never been in question. He’s led the NBA in assists per game twice (2011-12 and 2012-13), and he’s a great rebounding point guard too. Rondo averaged over five rebounds per game three times in his career, and his knack for getting the long offensive rebounds is unparalleled. Rondo chases down a lot of loose balls to create extra possessions, too, which is another team-enhancing ability of his not found on a stat sheet.
Who knew John was moonlighting with Space City Scoop?
Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons talked Rondo trade scenarios in this new podcast. Lowe doesn’t see Phoenix or Detroit as likely trade partners. As usual, Simmons went the blockbuster route and offered up Rondo/Wallace to the Knicks for Amare/Hardaway/Shumpert and 2 Knicks 1st rounders. Charlotte, Dallas and Houston are also discussed.
So much speculation… and it’s only September.
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – 5 wing players to watch | ESPN – Team USA routs Dominican Republic
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