Rondo may just go down as the steal of the 2006 draft

Rondo right on money


Rajon Rondo waves to the crowd from the back of a Duck Boat during the Celtics’ victory parade

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Phoenix Suns dealt away the draft rights to Rajon Rondo [stats] two years ago, and here’s what they have to show for it: cash.

That’s it. Hopefully it was a lot of money, because Rondo may just go down as the steal of the 2006 draft.

It’s amazing to think that the 22-year-old starting point guard for the world champion Celtics [team stats] could have been had for so little. On draft day 2006, the C’s sent Cleveland’s 2007 first-round pick, which they acquired for Jiri Welsch, to Phoenix for the rights to Rondo, the 21st overall pick out of Kentucky.

A year later, the Suns then shipped that pick (No. 24, Rudy Fernandez) and James Jones to the Trail Blazers for cash considerations.

The deal was all about the salary cap for both teams, helping Portland create a trade exception and the Suns to shed payroll. Though the sum of money was not disclosed, it’s a safe bet if the Suns knew then what they know now, they’d be grooming Steve Nash’s heir apparent instead of watching him celebrate a title with the Celtics.

From Rondo’s perspective, the deal could not have worked out any better. He apprenticed under Sebastian Telfair [stats] for a year, then took the reins and never looked back.

“We always say in this league that you’re fortunate,” Celtics guard Ray Allen said. “You’re fortunate to be drafted by the team that drafted you, based on the players there that set great examples of leadership for you. Not only the players, but the organization and how they do business and the coaching staff and how they make sure you grow and learn. (Rondo) took it all in and made the most of it.”

It’s quite possible that without Rondo the Celtics don’t win the title. While the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce [stats] and Allen gave the Celts their cornerstones, someone needed to get them the ball. And even though it’s hard to believe now, back in October, there were serious concerns if Rondo could be that guy. He only played two years of college ball, he wasn’t much of a shooter and he had almost no experience quarterbacking an NBA team, let alone a title contender.

But Rondo never lost faith in his abilities. Neither did the organization.

“Coach (Doc) Rivers and Danny Ainge had a lot of confidence in me, so I wasn’t trying to prove myself to anybody out there,” Rondo said. “They’ve had confidence in me since Day 1. I worked hard all summer in the weight room so I’d be ready to come in and run the show.”

Rondo averaged 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists. His 1.7 steals a game ranked eighth in the NBA, and he improved his shooting from 41.8 percent to 49.2 percent this year.

Rondo quickly discovered where teammates liked the ball, whether it was Garnett hitting the block, Allen popping free in the corner, or Pierce spotting up on either wing.

“It’s not hard playing with the Big Three,” Rondo said. “They’re not big-headed. They’re humble and they want to be treated like regular players.”

And they also know how to make their point guard look good.

“They make me look confident,” Rondo said. “When I’m out there with them, they make the game a lot easier for me. All I’ve got to do is play defense and take shots when I’m open. It’s not that difficult, especially playing with guys who can create their own shots. The role of the point guard in this league is to create shots for other players, and sometimes I do that, but a lot of times it’s just get the ball to Paul, Ray Allen or KG and let them do their thing.”

Rondo did that as well as anyone this year. Here’s hoping the Suns bought themselves something nice.</div>

 

IDK I think he's a good player. But he just strike me as a player that got the chance to produce. theres alot of failure because they were never given a good chance to produce. Not only waz he given the chance, but he got to do it with three all-stars.

 

Agreed, but at least he utilized the chance to its full potential. He played very well this season and really stepped up in game 6, grabbing all those steals.

 

I watched some of the finals, but not all of any one game....It seemed like everytime I turned it on, Rondo was taking the ball to the hole and scoring or getting fouled....I was impressed with his game

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef @ Jun 20 2008, 01:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I watched some of the finals, but not all of any one game....It seemed like everytime I turned it on, Rondo was taking the ball to the hole and scoring or getting fouled....I was impressed with his game</div>

A lot of 'young' or 'fresh' players do that or have games like that... They just dont get the playing time or the calls to go their way... It also helped Rondo that KG was there to open up the paint for him.

Anyway, i think he played good.

 

He still has a long way to go IMO.

I saw him drive several times and pass up shots close to the basket when he should have been finishing those drives.
He also needs to hit that mid-range jumper as the Lakers were laying off him, hence Doc bringing in Eddie House to play PG.

That last game erased a lot of things he didn't do well in the previous 5 games. If he continues to improve he could be a top 10 PG in the next few years.

 

Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng... the Suns' cheapness has screwed them over in quite a few drafts now.

 

I was definitely not impressed with aspects of his game. I mean, Kobe was laying 10 feet off him in the Finals. When have you ever, ever seen that in NBA? His non-offense really killed the Celtics offense for a while.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>But he just strike me as a player that got the chance to produce. theres alot of failure because they were never given a good chance to produce. Not only waz he given the chance, but he got to do it with three all-stars.</div>

^ What he said. And make that three Hall-of-Famers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 20 2008, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng... the Suns' cheapness has screwed them over in quite a few drafts now.</div>
and that's the reason why D'Antoni's run and gun style of play didn't work in Pheonix.
They let Q-Rich walk, did a sign and trade becuase they alienated Joe Johnson with their bargining tactics, sold draft pics and tried to win a championship on the cheap. If the owner had shelled out the bucks and kept their draft picks, I think the Suns COULD have won a title or at the very least made a the finals.

ppl forget about the talent the Suns let go and their overall cheapness.

 

Letting Johnson go hurt them the most.


Back to Rondo, I think he'll improve a lot at the start of next season, now that he has a ring.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jun 20 2008, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Letting Johnson go hurt them the most.


Back to Rondo, I think he'll improve a lot at the start of next season, now that he has a ring. </div>

I hope so, it's his 3rd year so he should make a big leap this year if he's going to at all.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jun 20 2008, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Pheonix is already $3M over the LT threshold and will be $2M over next season.

Deng would have cost them $8M or more due to the tax penalty. Those other guys would have cost them $20M or more, each.

Phoenix did sign Amare and Marion and signed Nash as a FA.</div>
yeah because they let JJ and Q-Rich go but paid Marcus 'freaking' Bank 25 mil.. why, who knows.

and when you get a top 10 draft pick, you gotta keep it IMO.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 20 2008, 08:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng... the Suns' cheapness has screwed them over in quite a few drafts now.</div>


Plus Nate Robinson, David Lee, Rudy Fernandez, and Sergio Rodriguez. That could've been a deep team with all of those guys there.

 

Rajon also still needs to learn how to get a shot over Josh Smith

 

Well if they got Rondo they could have traded Barbosa away for cap space and saved like 40 mill instead of like 3 mill the trade. Rondo also is a better man on defender imo, and he is pretty similar in playing style.

 

Rondo was not a big factor. No player that young can be a big factor, and the role of the PG is overrated.
[George Karl]

_______________________________________________________________________________
Go away, George, there's the door.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jun 20 2008, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng... the Suns' cheapness has screwed them over in quite a few drafts now.</div>
What did they get for Deng? I never knew that the Suns ever had him.