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Chicago Bulls: The Rajon Rondo Question

By Allana Tachauer

Nov 28, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives on Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) during the second half of the Chicago Bulls 109-102 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives on Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) during the second half of the Chicago Bulls 109-102 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Bulls recently signed guard Rajon Rondo to a two-year deal, and many are wondering why.

On Sunday, it was announced that the Chicago Bulls had signed guard Rajon Rondo to a two-year, $28 million deal. And while criticism of this move was mixed, most people had one reaction in common: Why him?

Nearly a week later, the question still comes two-fold.

First and foremost, why did the front office choose to go with Rondo over other potential candidates?

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Rondo is 30 years old. He has a significant price tag attached. And, well, he is known to be quite a troublemaker. But as if that description were not disappointing enough, there were also a handful of other free agents Chicago could have pursued.

Say, Seth Curry for example. Although Curry may never be his brother, he still would have been a solid pickup.

At 25, the guard averaged 6.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists a night in 44 games last season. However, he had a breakout month in April for the Sacramento Kings, having averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game, making an average of 3.3 three-pointers on 48.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

The Dallas Mavericks just agreed to sign him to a two-year, $6 million contract.

If general manager Gar Forman really wanted young and athletic, that is the type of guy he should have gone for. Likewise, the Bulls could have chased after Brandon Jennings.

Sure he has had a rocky couple of years, but that was due to injury; Jennings is still averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds a game, over his career. Having played for the Milwaukee Bucks and then the Detroit Pistons, he is only 26 but has been in the league for seven years now. This lends itself well to both youthful play and an experienced mindset. All in all, he seemingly could have worked as a replacement for Derrick Rose.

Except that now, the New York Knicks have agreed to sign him to a one-year, $5 million contract.

There was also Deron Williams, who, although 32 years old, still has some gas in his tank.

The veteran averaged 14.1 points, 5.8 assists and 2.9 rebounds a contest last season with the Mavericks. He still has a shooter’s hand but also knows how to make plays for his teammates, resulting in cooperation all around. And he has ties to Chicago, which may have made it easier to lure him to the organization.

Instead, the Mavericks agreed to re-sign him on a one-year, $10 million deal.

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    • Did the Bulls look into any of these guys? No idea. On the one hand, perhaps Forman and company ignored them completely. But there is also the possibility that they reached out, and were essentially told to move on. So part one of “Why Rondo?” is still unanswered.

    Now as far as how the front office sees him fitting into the system…this is also a bit difficult.

    It was dicey enough before former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade decided to sign with Chicago too. But now, there are three egos to please.

    Once Rose was traded, it was assumed that Jimmy Butler would be the new face of the franchise. But now, it is a star-studded mess. Perhaps these three will get along. Or, their egos will clash and it will be a disaster. But, Rondo does have something to offer the team: his veteran expertise.

    An NBA champion and also a four-time All-Star, Rondo certainly has a high-level basketball IQ. He knows what it takes to succeed, and how to handle the pressure of it all. And with Butler having lost a handful of mentors, starting with former head coach Tom Thibodeau, and now Rose and Joakim Noah, the young fellow could definitely use some guidance.

    Aside from his potential bond with Butler, Rondo could possibly fall well into Hoiball. Feeling more at ease with a fast-paced type of game, he will absolutely be able to attack on offense. And as long as he feels on par and/or comfortable with Butler, Rondo will make it easier for Butler to score too.

    Of course, there is also the bigger picture of Rondo being a household name. The Bulls definitely needed a star to fill the void after they lost Rose, Noah and Pau Gasol, not just for their image now, but to be able to better recruit guys down the line.

    More hoops habit: The Many Ripple Effects Of Dwyane Wade's Bulls Decision

    Some may say the decision to sign Rondo was strange, especially given the other choices available. But at this point, it’s time to focus on what he can bring to the table, and where the team goes from here.

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