Sacramento Kings: Grading The Offseason

The Rondo Gamble

Ahh, yes. The “big move” of the summer. It’s amazing how much torment Sacramento Kings fans have to endure. The worst part is that in and of itself, this normally wouldn’t be a bad signing.

On paper, Rajon Rondo isn’t a horrendous fit in Sacramento. His inability to spread the floor with even a serviceable midrange jumper is a problem, but that’d be an issue no matter what team he plays for. The Kings have a few decent shooters in Ben McLemore, Omri Casspi and now Marco Belinelli to help spread the floor and take the focus off of Rondo.

One of Sacramento’s biggest areas of need over the past few seasons has been upgrading the point guard position, so signing a quality facilitator and passable defender like Rondo isn’t a completely terrible move, especially with all that cap room waiting to be used.

But to think that this is a “good” deal in any sense of the word would be foolish.

For starters, Rondo’s already poor shooting has regressed with the rest of his game, as he shot 42.6 percent from the field and an appalling 39.7 percent from the foul line last season. Post-ACL tear Rondo has been a step slower on the defensive end, and his proficiency as a floor general may be based on little more than reputation at this point.

Take into consideration that the Dallas Mavericks were the NBA’s top offense last season until they traded for the embattled point guard in a swing-for-the-fences move. Post-Rondo trade, the Mavs’ offense dropped to No. 13. And all this is before you mention the off-court drama and cocky attitude that accompanies Rondo, who had no problem barking at head coach Rick Carlisle this year.

With the George Karl-DeMarcus Cousins drama that’s been the focal point of Kings speculation this summer, adding a radioactive presence like Rajon Rondo shouldn’t strike anyone as a stabilizing agent in this explosive chemical equation.

There’s no question Rondo will be overpaid this season at $9.5 million, mostly because of the horrendous trade that gave the Kings the ability to overpay their free agents. He may have Cousins’ support, and he may be friends with Rudy Gay, but Rondo is a control freak with the ball in his hands and adding a toxic attitude to an already volatile franchise is almost sure to be a disaster.

But even if it isn’t and Rondo somehow thrives in these unlikeliest of conditions, it won’t help Sacramento beyond the 2015-16 season. On a one-year deal, Rondo will once again be a free agent next summer when the NBA’s salary cap leaps to around $89 million.

Even if Rondo has a resurgent season and proves his value again, that just means that either A) another team will poach him (because why wouldn’t you leave the Kings at the first opportunity if you could?) or B) the Kings are forced to drastically overpay to retain his services.

The Kings aren’t making the playoffs next season, which would virtually be the only way a revitalized Rondo sticks around after one year in Sac-town. Even if he succeeds and makes the Kings a better team, this is a lose-lose deal for Sacramento.

Grade: D-

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