According to the latest NBA rumors, the Brooklyn Nets have interest in former All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo. Does he make sense as a free agent signing in Brooklyn?
The Brooklyn Nets are in a clear rebuilding mode as they continue to try to dig out from under a 2013 trade that sent the Boston Celtics numerous picks and expiring contracts in exchange for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
It is as clear as ever that the Celtics fleeced the Nets that summer, with the team looking to move veterans and get younger with an eye towards the future ever since the Pierce/KG experiment was deemed a failure in Brooklyn.
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The Nets elected not to re-sign point guard Deron Williams following the 2014-15 season and negotiated a buyout with wing Joe Johnson after last February’s trade deadline, which opened the door for Johnson’s signing with the Miami Heat.
The Nets still have Brook Lopez on the roster, who, when healthy, is one of the top five centers in the game. With the team unable to build through the draft of late due to the fact that Boston owned all of their picks, the Nets have no choice but to make prudent choices in free agency.
One name that has been floated around for quite some time is former All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo, with Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler listing the Nets as the favorites to sign him. Rondo, who was traded by the Celtics in the middle of the 2014-15 season to the Dallas Mavericks, played this past season with the Sacramento Kings.
The #Nets will meet with free agent point guard Rajon Rondo, according to sources. #NBAFreeAgency
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) June 30, 2016
When latching on with the Kings, Rondo’s stock had never been lower, as he was only a year and a half removed from ACL surgery, had statistics that had dropped quite a bit from his best seasons as a pro, and was coming off of a postseason with the Dallas Mavericks in which he was benched by coach head coach Rick Carlisle after numerous spats.
Despite a turbulent season for the Kings, Rajon Rondo was able to reestablish has value while (mostly) keeping his name clear of the limelight. In his lone season with the Kings, Rondo averaged 11.9 points per game and matched his career-high in assists, dishing out 11.7 per game.
FanSided
Rondo also pulled down 6.0 rebounds per game, which is his second-highest total as a professional. Most importantly, Rondo made appearances in 72 games, which made it the healthiest season that he has had since the 2009-10 campaign when he played in 81 contests.
Rondo was able to show that he was healthy through his burst, court vision, and playmaking ability. Perhaps most importantly, Rondo was able to keep his head above the fray, not getting involved in off-court matters that seemingly surrounded the roster.
So can Rondo be a good fit in Brooklyn with a young, rebuilding roster? The answer is a resounding yes. Sure, the Nets are low on talent currently, but a core of a healthy Rajon Rondo and Brook Lopez could be the start of a formidable offensive core.
Rondo will have the will to make plays for his teammates, and Lopez can hold down the painted area both offensively and defensively. If the Nets find a way to acquire some shooters around Rondo and a solid offensive big in Lopez, all of a sudden the Nets could be well on their way to jumpstarting the rebuilding process.
Rondo is not a player that will join the team and create his own offense, but he could be the key to an efficient offense down the road. He is at his best when he is maneuvering through the lane and creating for those around him, while also creating his own shot close to the basket.
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It may not be a perfect fit at first, but the potential for the Nets to get better in a hurry could start with acquiring a player like Rondo. Only time will tell if the team can reach an agreement with the point guard, but the thought of him playing in Brooklyn should have fans excited, for the first time in quite sometime.