2017 NBA free agency grades: New Orleans Pelicans to add Rajon Rondo
The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to terms with free agent point guard Rajon Rondo on a one-year contract, giving the team some much-needed depth.
The addition of Rajon Rondo to the New Orleans Pelicans provides the team with an unexpected injection of talent to perhaps the most perplexing roster in the NBA.
New Orleans has the All-Star frontcourt combination of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis at a time when the rest of the league is thriving by playing smaller, more fluid lineups anchored by potent shooting from all positions.
With limited financial flexibility and a roster devoid of elite talent outside of its center and power forward positions, the team had little choice but to offer incumbent point guard Jrue Holiday a maximum contract in free agency, instead of losing him for nothing.
To retain Holiday, the Pelicans signed him to a five-year, $126 million deal, making him the fifth player on the roster earning more than $10 million next year, along with Davis, Cousins, Omer Asik and Solomon Hill.
According to Sportrac, the Pelicans are $15 million over the salary cap after signing Holiday.
The Vertical‘s Shams Charania would later report the details of the contract: one year, $3.3 million.
Free agent Rajon Rondo has reached agreement on a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2017
Sources: Free agent Rajon Rondo has signed his one-year deal with New Orleans for $3.3M.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2017
At such a low price, the impact Rondo is able to provide is abundantly clear.
Three times in his career, Rondo has managed to post the highest assist average in the NBA and his career-high 839 assists came during his lone season in Sacramento.
The combination of Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins proved to be one of the most dynamic offensive pairings in the league.
As Rondo won his third career assist title with the Kings, 237 times his passes led to a conversion from Cousins — the most assists he dished out to a single player in his 11-year career.
The 8.5 assists per game Rondo has averaged since being selected with the 21st overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft by Phoenix is the third most among all active players in the NBA.
In an effort to save money, the Suns dealt Brian Grant, along with the draft rights to Rondo, to Boston in exchange for a first round pick the following year. Phoenix selected Rudy Fernandez but sent him to Portland for cash considerations.
Rondo thrived during his tenure in Boston, helping the Celtics clinch the title in 2008 and later being selected to four consecutive All-Star contests. The 6’1″ point guard often performed best when the stakes are at the highest.
In 96 playoff appearances, Rondo is averaging 14.4 points, 9.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, but has struggled to log a consistent place on a postseason rotation outside of Boston.
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Pelican Debrief
After being dealt away to Dallas in 2014, Rondo was dismissed from the team after two postseason games.
Following a disastrous end with the Mavericks, Rondo spent one season in Sacramento and then left in free agency to join the Bulls.
Rondo was waived by Chicago, saving the team $11 million, after he clashed with Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade last season. The 31-year-old guard was benched for five consecutive games in late December and early March and didn’t return to the starting lineup again until March.
Once the playoffs began, Rondo was at his best, averaging 11.5 points, 10 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game before breaking his thumb and ending his season.
New Orleans is hoping Rondo will be enough to not only return the team back to postseason contention, but help convince Cousins to sign a long-term contract to remain there.
The Pelicans have simultaneously solidified their bench and backcourt by bringing in Rondo, believing he can play extended minutes alongside Holiday.
Two years ago, Holiday spent nearly 65 percent of his time on the floor as the shooting guard for New Orleans, a role that will likely be revisited next year.
In order for Rondo to succeed, he needs the ball in his hands, which enables him to create scoring opportunities for teammates.
Even though the Bulls limited him to just 26.7 minutes a game, Rondo still managed to generate 15.3 points per game off assists, the 13th highest total in the NBA.
Along with his exceptional passing, Rondo also adds value as a rebounder. In each of the past five seasons, Rondo has pulled down 5.0 or more rebounds per game, an asset considering New Orleans was the top defensive rebounding team in the NBA, but ranked 29th in offensive rebounds.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
With so few options remaining in free agency, New Orleans was able to add a significant piece to its roster in Rajon Rondo, without jeopardizing their financial flexibility in the future.
Grade: A