Okay: so Bill Simmons suggested that Boston has the "hammer" trade offer for Chris Paul that involves taking back Okafor as well, and giving New Orleans a package consisting centrally of Rajon Rondo and Rasheed Wallace's big retired contract (that presumably counts as cap space, as he's only holding off retiring as a favor to the Celtics to use his contract). While I agree that that's the best offer I've seen (other than trades from Portland that I wouldn't want to make), New Orleans presumably thinks they've got a good young PG in Collison, and probably wouldn't like Rondo's $10M a year deal (which is actually a bargain). So I suggest that maybe we can get Rondo without giving up any of our Big Four, which would be impossible if we want to get Paul. Things get tricky because Boston just hasn't got that many tradeable bits, so I had to bring in Cleveland to make it work, but here it is: We give up: Joel, Andre, Rudy, Bayless and Pendergraph (and perhaps rights to foreign players, picks and $3M to New Orleans) We get: Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Mo Williams (OR: "Boobie" Gibson plus Delonte "the terminator" West) Reason to do it: RONDO! But Perkins is a bonus, once he heals, as he's Joel with a bit more offense. Williams can play 10mpg as "Brandon Roy's ideal PG" Boston gives up: Rondo, Perkins, Sheed contract and probably $3M to New Orleans and picks Boston gets: Paul and Varejao (and signs Shaq, as rumored) Reason to do it: CHRIS FUCKING PAUL! But Varejao is actually a huge bonus. Cleveland gives up: Williams and Varejao Cleveland gets: Miller and Okafor Reason to do it: The Cavs are the biggest stretch here. They improve and get cheaper in the PG dept, and Andre is better for a running game, which Scott wants to institute. But they take on Okafor. He's a better fit, as Varejao is really a PF, and they have Jamison and Hickson at PF already, but no real C, but he's expensive. Basically they turn two pieces that were "LeBron" guys - players who have the most value as complements, into two pieces that are better contributors without James. (If they can get value for Williams elsewhere, then they should send out Gibson and West instead) New Orleans gives up: Paul and Okafor New Orleans gets: huge piles of cash, picks, rights to Claver et al, Sheed's $6.3M cap space plus: Bayless, Rudy, Glen "local hero" Davis and odds and ends (Joel and Pendergraph) Reason to do it: Saving money. That's about it. Thoughts? Boston and Portland make out like bandits - maybe you can make a fairer trade that gets Paul to Boston and Rondo to us while keeping our "big four"
Obviously that would never happen but rondo without giving up Oden or Batum would make us the most horrifying defensive team in the league.
Alternatively: Portland gets: Rajon Rondo Emeka Okafor Boston gets: Chris Paul Joel Prz./Andre Miller (pretty much identical $ - New Orleans gets to choose) New Orleans gets: From Boston: Rasheed's $6.3M cap space + $3M cash Kendrick Perkins Glen Davis From Portland: Andre Miller/Joel Prz. Bayless Rudy Pendergraph (plus $3M plus Babbitt/Williams and/or rights to Claver/Freeland) Don't need to involve Cleveland, looks a bit better for New Orleans
What about my other suggestion? The thing about these trades is that New Orleans saves $6.3M RIGHT NOW, AND gets rid of Okafor's contract. I can't think of any other suggestions that do that. Wouldn't it?
Williams would be an awfully expensive backup "point" guard in the first scenario. As for Rondo on this roster ... wouldn't he pose the same issues that Miller does already paired up with Roy, minus the fact that Rondo is a much better defender. I guess I'm not seeing it.
Sure. But (a) that scenario's way too complicated to happen anyway, but (b) who cares about expense? What's the point in having a rich owner if you can't take on a shitload of money just to get the player you want? Hasn't Paul Allen paid about $20M over the past few seasons just to move up a few places/buy picks that end up being Sergio or players who have yet to come over? Right (although, of course, in the original scenario you would have a pure-shooting PG to fall back on). If you don't think Rondo fits, then you'd never want him, however cheap. And it would be odd. But I would SO love to see it. Rondo's the nearest thing to a young Gary Payton in the league, and you've got to think Nate would appreciate that. And Rondo is so good at defense that I think he makes up for a hell of a lot on offense. Remember, everyone thinks all you have to do is sag off him and the Celtics can't score. And yet they destroyed Wade, LeBron and Howard in quick succession, and were 3-2 up on the Lakers. And don't tell me that's because of the "big three", because they all underperformed. If they'd've had homecourt and/or Perkins didn't go down, they'd have their second championship. Remember how unbeatable Orlando looked against everyone else? Part of me really wouldn't mind a Paul/Rondo swap, because we'd get to see Rajon Rondo totally unleashed in New Orleans.
I'd be thrilled to see this deal happen. I love Rondo. Not nearly as much as Paul, but Rondo would probably be the second most attractive point guard to me (ahead of Deron Williams) and to get him without giving up any of Oden/Roy/Aldridge/Batum would be utterly amazing. Also, as Idog says, the team would become an amazing defensive team...while actually possessing more offensive firepower than the last couple of years. I don't see New Orleans trading Paul for nothing but Bayless and cash savings. But if they were cool with that and this trade happened, I'd view Portland as about as much a title contender as Miami and the odds-on favourite to win the West.
Seriously. Deron Williams is a bit more productive, but Rondo is one of the several best defenders in basketball. He's a much better defender than Williams. Williams is a better shooter, but Rondo is a better slasher, equal play-maker for others and a lock-down defender. I think Deron Williams is somewhat overrated (some actually think he's comparable to Paul, which is crazy) and Rondo is somewhat underrated. Now, I will admit that Williams might be a better fit next to Roy, due to his superior ability to shoot. My comment of Rondo being the second most attractive point guard to me was in a vacuum. I might prefer Williams on this Blazers team...but, of course, Williams is quite unavailable while the premise of this thread is "imagine Rondo isn't."
The tamed down version: Rondo is my favorite player, but even I recognize Chris Paul is better, and I would trade Rondo for him.... without a second thought.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2666qx4 bout the same I think that everyone said.... But yeah I'd do this!
I'm not a big Rondo fan. I am not a fan of any Point Guard that cannot hit free throws. You simply can't have a top-5 point guard like that and not be able to play him in crunch time. Hack-a-Shaq is one thing, but (other than Pops and his away from the ball fouling technique), most teams foul the guy with the ball and the PG handles the ball more than anyone. What was Rondo's FT percentage in the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA finals? I don't know off hand, but it was terrible. If we got him, I would be praying that someone could teach him to shoot those Free Throws.
