Shooting ability is the only thing keeping him Hall of Fame greatness. He's an elite slasher, great passer, elite defender. If he had a shot, he'd be virtually perfect. As it is, I consider him a poor man's Gary Payton (Payton couldn't shoot when he entered the league, but developed into a solid shooter). I consider Payton to be in the argument for third-best point guard ever, so a poor man's Payton would still be fantastic.
There's not a lot of evidence that players who enter the NBA with a poor shot are likely to be able to improve it. A few have (obviously, I just mentioned Payton), but the studies I've seen on it suggest that it's rare. I doubt it reflects on his work ethic.
I love Batum, but I consider Rondo significantly more valuable. He's a truly elite defender (which has more impact at point guard, IMO, since you're disrupting the facilitator of the opposing offense) and someone who can create for others in addition to himself...something Batum hasn't yet proven he can do consistently. Rondo is still pretty young, himself.
11, 12, 13 million is what he will earn the next 3 years. I would take a chance on his attitude. The fact he can't shoot I hate. But the fact he can dribble and pass.......I like. If you guys really want the Blazers to run, then we need a point guard who can at least run, pass, and finish at the basket. (We also need wing players who can pass better-Batum, Wes, and Wallace have all struggled) Rondo does not meet my pre-season desire for players who can hit a mid range pull up jumper that only Roy and Mills posessed last year, and only Crawford seems to have this year. But at least he can dribble, pass, and attack the rim. Is he worth 12 million a year? That is a lot. We would have to re-sign Wallace even if he seems to be running out of gas. A LMA, Elliot Williams, Wallace, and Rondo would be a start. Maybe Boston would take Greg instead. Add Batum to our mix and I like it more.
Doc Rivers thinks Rondo wont be traded http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story...s-confident-rajon-rondo-remain-boston-celtics
Agreed. PGsOTF and CsOTF are the toughest commodities to come by in the NBA. If it were Batum for Rondo, even despite the character question marks for Rondo, I think we'd have to take it. Rondo, LMA and a FA Center are (to me) a better base to rebuild around that LMA, Batum and a FA PG/C... No great looking PGs looking like they'll be in the draft either...
Ainge on the big show said he hasn't been looking to trade rondo he's getting been getting calls but hasn't been calling to trade rondo. Broussard says they have been calling because they know they can't win with what they got. Hmmm who to believe
@CHold: Tis' the season RT @daldridgetnt: C's source, pushing back on Rondo trade rumors: "Teams want him? That's great. He's not going anywhere." Well that puts a kink in things.
Actually, I think his ultra-competitive attitude is exactly what this team needs. It needs a guy yelling at Nic to shoot, and LA to hit the boards. It needs a guy who will get after others in practice and call them out in front of a national TV audience instead of feebly stepping around folks, complaining that "we're too nice to each other." LOL.
