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That dude's hugely underappreciated for what he does, especially in Boston. People will be watching him this season with a fresh set of eyes.
Rondo to join 2010 free-agent class
By Marc J. Spears
Rajon Rondo will not sign a contract extension with the Boston Celtics, allowing him to join next summer’s heralded free-agent class, the point guard’s agent told Yahoo! Sports late Monday.
Rondo and the Celtics have until Saturday to negotiate an extension, but his agent, Bill Duffy, said the point guard has already made a decision to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Duffy said he has had recent talks with the Celtics about Rondo, but the negotiations never progressed enough to lead him to believe the sides were close to a deal. Celtics president Danny Ainge couldn’t be reached for comment.
“We’re not going to do an extension right now,” Duffy said. “The conversation has been cordial. We’ve been talking the last couple of weeks. There is a difference between the perception of him in their eyes and our eyes. With that being said, the focus is on Rajon to have a fantastic season and concentrate on winning a championship.”
Duffy, who also counts Steve Nash among his clients, said he is seeking a contract that would pay Rondo like one of the NBA’s top five point guards.
The Celtics, Duffy said, “feel differently.”
Rondo, 23, is making $2.1 million in the final season of his rookie contract. Among members of Rondo’s 2006 rookie class, Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Brandon Roy received a five-year, $80 million contract extension. Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge also received a five-year extension that will pay him at least $65 million.
Rondo averaged 11.9 points. 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds for the Celtics last season. He had a breakthrough performance in the playoffs, nearly averaging a triple-double of 16.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.7 rebounds in 14 games.
While LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh – and possibly Dirk Nowitzki and Amare Stoudemire – will headline the 2010 free-agent class, Rondo would be the best point guard available. Because he will be a restricted free agent, the Celtics will have seven days to match any offer sheet he receives from another team.
Celtics guard Ray Allen also will be a free agent at the end of the season and Paul Pierce could join them as well, should he opt out of the final year of his contract.
Rondo frustrated the Celtics at times last season with maturity issues and his name surfaced in trade talks over the summer. Duffy, however, said Rondo is completely on the “same page” with the Celtics now and that the summer problems had no bearing on Rondo’s decision to become a free agent.
“Danny knows Rajon is taking care of business on and off the court,” Duffy said. “Danny Ainge has stated happiness with Rondo’s work ethic and leadership at this point.”
That dude's hugely underappreciated for what he does, especially in Boston. People will be watching him this season with a fresh set of eyes.
He had an excellent playoffs I thought. Many trip-dubs
He is a good player, too bad he turned out to be a son of a , and he showed that in the playoffs. Most altercations with the Bulls involved Rondo as the main guy.
His recent development is unbelievable.
He's the goodsPERIOD
More proof that:
Celtics management>>>>>>Blazers management
I took a quick glance at the listed salaries of some prominent point guards, and it seems the two lowest salaries among these is Devin Harris's at about $8 mil per, and Parker's at about $12 mil per.
Just on last year's performance, does Rondo deserve a contract in or above that range? What should he do this coming season to earn such a contract?
take more time for the look.
Billups makes less than Parker (12.1),
some all stars or borderline all stars like Mo Williams (8.9), Nelson (7.6) and Calderon (8.2) make significantly less than Tony and some proven veterans had to saddle for even less, namely Bibby (6.2) and Miller (6.7).
IMO Rondo is worth a contract in the area of Jameer Nelson (5years /38 million), but I guess he thinks he is worth twice this money.
The highest paid PGs are:
Arenas and Wade (both maybe not really PGs) at about $16 mil,
than comes Williams, Paul and Nash at $13 mil,
Parker, Davis and Billups at about $12 mil
In the next Group ($8-10 mil) are guys like:
Kidd, Calderon, Nelson, Mo Williams, Hinrich, Ford...
This source says the Celtics offered Rondo $45 mil over 5 years, that makes 9 per. He wanted $55-60 mil, 11 or 12 p.a. for 5 years.
Source: Rondo, Celts $10-15 million apart
So basically the question is, does he deserve as much as Jose & Jameer or Tony & Chauncey...
And in addition to the Blazers-Comparison Mel_13 made,
Roys contract extension (5y, $80 mil) starts at $13.5 mil and ends at $19 mil.
If Rondo really "just" wants $60 mil over 5, I think he will get it easily next summer!
Take note of what I quoted in the original article - the agent was referencing the top 5 PGs and their salaries.
I just might give you Billups, but I wouldn't count any of those other guys you listed among that top 5.
Last edited by anakha; 10-27-2009 at 09:52 AM.
* Don't stop breathing is Numero Uno.
* Make sure Ainge doesn't whack off his/Rondo's nose to spite his/Ainge's face.
* Sign on the line which is dotted.
(5 y, $80 mil) that's it! That's the one Rondo is eyeballin'.
And deserves got nothin' to do with it.
7 mil over five years? That's league minimum territory there.
and? that makes him a son of a ?
rondo is good. if celts think they can low ball their starting championship point guard then they are re ed. I can understand the celtics position though, they know this is their last year of contention, no reason to committ alot to such a talented player.
Rondo's pissed that the entire Celtics team (Pierce, Allen, etc) +management (Rivers/Ainge/Wyc) were flown down to sign up Sheed.
Then when it was his turn, they wouldn't even talk extension (originally opting to wait until next year).
He's feelin' disrespected right now.
He needs to show a lot of improvement and maturity to earn the kind of money he wants with a new contract. Right now he is a 7-9 mill/year.
Rondo, Celtics go back to bargaining table
By Marc J. Spears
Contract talks between Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics were revived from the dead Tuesday.
Agent Bill Duffy said Celtics president Danny Ainge restarted talks by expressing a willingness to improve a possible offer to Rondo during a meeting at halftime of Boston’s 95-89 win in Cleveland on Tuesday. On Monday, Duffy told Yahoo! Sports that Rondo would not sign a contract extension with the Celtics and would become a restricted free agent next summer. The deadline for a possible extension is Saturday.
“Our position was firm, but Danny Ainge reached out and said they were willing to move,” Duffy told Yahoo! Sports in a phone interview. “Our mind was made up on this. But he said, ‘Let’s try to talk again, let us put some stuff together and talk [Wednesday].’ ”
Rondo averaged 11.9 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds for the Celtics last season. He had a breakthrough performance last postseason, averaging a near triple-double of 16.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.7 rebounds in 14 contests.
Rondo declined comment on his contract situation prior to the Celtics’ win at Cleveland on Tuesday. Ainge could not be reached for comment.
Duffy said Ainge reached out to him Tuesday morning via text message to see if they could talk at halftime of the Cleveland game. During the meeting, Duffy said Ainge spoke of an improved counterproposal from their previous contract talks.
“If the Celtics are willing to move, we’ll entertain it,” Duffy said.
Duffy has told Yahoo! Sports that Rondo merits a contract worthy of a top-five point guard. A source, however, said Rondo is seeking a five-year deal in the $55 million to $65 million range.
Among members of Rondo’s 2006 rookie class, Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Brandon Roy received a five-year, $80 million contract extension. Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge also received a five-year extension that will pay him at least $65 million.
While both sides are speaking again, Duffy cautions that it’s not a given that a new pact will be made.
“It comes down to how much they’re willing to move,” Duffy said. “But Rajon is completely prepared to play his contract out [to become a restricted free agent].”
While the marquee players of the 2010 free agent class include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and possibly Dirk Nowitzki and Amar’e Stoudemire, Rondo appears to easily be the top point guard available. While numerous teams have deep pockets next summer, the Celtics would have seven days to match any potential offer sheet that Rondo could sign due to his restricted status. While Rondo is just 23 years old now, the Celtics’ four other marquee players are all in their 30s – Paul Pierce (32), Kevin Garnett (33), Ray Allen (34) and Rasheed Wallace (35).
Sources: Celts, Rondo still talking
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Although the past few days have been mostly quiet on the contract front for Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, both sides are expected to connect Sunday for one last attempt to come together on a new deal before Monday's deadline for contract extensions for members of the 2006 draft class, according to sources close to the process.
The annual deadline for such extensions is Oct. 31 every season but was moved to Monday at 11:59 p.m. by the NBA because Halloween fell on a Saturday. League rules stipulate that the deadline moves to the next possible business day if it coincides with a Saturday, Sunday or national holiday.
Rondo's camp appeared prepared to scrap the idea of further talks and consider the matter of an extension closed as recently as Monday. Yet a meeting Tuesday in Cleveland between Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, resuscitated talks, with Boston making unspecified improvements to its previous offer.
Ainge, though, told the Boston Herald on Friday that he hadn't even discussed the extended deadline with Duffy after Tuesday's sitdown and said of the extra time: "I don't know if it helps or it doesn't help."
Rondo, meanwhile, has made it clear that he is more than prepared to play on without an extension and join the vaunted 2010 free-agent class as a restricted free agent next July 1, when he would almost surely attract a lucrative long-term offer from an external suitor. The Celtics would have seven days to match an offer in that scenario unless they strike their own deal with Rondo first.
"I have no idea whether we'll get something done [by the deadline]," Rondo told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard on Oct. 20. "It's not something I'm worried about. It's just not a big deal right now. Of course I'd like to get it done, but if it doesn't happen, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
"My agent's got a certain number in mind and if they don't reach that, we'll just wait. I feel like if we win another le, obviously that helps my chances [of getting more money]."
The Celtics have also expressed public confidence that the absence of an extension won't affect Rondo's play this season. In a interview Friday with Boston's WEEI radio, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said: "Obviously I think both sides are working to get [an extension] done. I think if it happens, it's great. If it doesn't, I don't think it affects either side. Like [I've] said before, I believe he'll be a Celtic for life whether he gets this deal done [before the deadline or not]."
Rondo would be the biggest name from the 2006 draft class not to land an extension if no deal can be struck by Monday, but he'd hardly be alone. In yet another illustration of the global economic downturn's effect on the NBA, only four 2006 first-rounders have received extensions so far: No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani (Toronto), No. 2 LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland), No. 6 Brandon Roy (Portland) and No. 13 Thabo Sefolosha (Oklahoma City).
Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay and Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas join Rondo on the list of prominent alumni from the '06 draft who for weeks have been resigned to the fact that they were unlikely to receive an extension, although Gay and the Grizzlies -- unlike Thomas and the Bulls -- are still talking.
"The talks never died," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Saturday. "We have been talking since early in the summer."
WEEI reported earlier this week that the Celtics offered Rondo a five-year, $45 million extension. But Rondo, according to the station, is seeking a five-year deal worth between $55 million and $60 million.
Rondo is earning $2.3 million this season in the last year of his rookie contract. He averaged 11.9 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game last season but pushed those averages to an impressive near triple-double in the playoffs with star forward Kevin Garnett sidelined.
Time to open that wallet Boston.
I need to watch more games. I'm not sure if Rondo is that good or if having 3 future hall of famers on the court tweaks the D to where he can thrive.
He'd be a good backup for Tony.
Rondo can't shoot but is probably one of the best defensive PG's, that puts him in the $8-$10 million category.
I wonder how he'd do without three future hall of famers on his team.
In the playoffs he only had 2 hall of famers and his stats went up across the board.
He's probably going to be an all star this year.
He's in the top 2 points in rebounding, probably #1 this year.
He'll be in the top 5 in assists, maybe top 3.
He'll have the highest fg% of any point.
He's the top defending point in the game.
Plus he's only 23 and constantly getting better.
What is there about this guy that makes people lose all reasoning?
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