Free agent point guard Rajon Rondo has has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
Rajon Rondo agrees to 1-year, $10 million deal with Kings
Rondo will head to Sacramento and attempt to rebuild his value before hitting the free agent market again next season.
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Rondo was traded mid-season from the Boston Celtics to the Dallas Mavericks, which were hoping the former All-Star would provide a defensive presence and leadership. Instead, Dallas' offense collapsed due to his inability to shoot and he constantly clashed with coach Rick Carlisle. After surrendering assets to land Rondo, it was soon clear that the Mavericks realized they had made a mistake and were not going to re-sign him. The fact that he was separated from the team during the playoffs all but confirmed it.
Rondo has been biding his time until free agency ever since the Ubuntu-era Celtics were broken up. He was never happy in Boston during the rebuild but injuries limited his trade value to the point where not a lot of teams were willing to gamble on the temperamental guard. After his ill-fated stint in Dallas, Rondo will finally get a chance to choose where he plays, but his stock around the league is at an all time low.
At this point Rondo’s strengths and weaknesses are well-known. With the ball in his hands and surrounded with shooters, he can create for his teammates but can’t score on his own. He never had range but as he’s aged, his explosiveness has gone, so he can’t really get to the rim at will and finish there. He continues to be a fantastic passer but his defense has slipped, reducing his value.
Last season he averaged nine points and eight assists per game while shooting 31 percent from the three-point line and a dismal 40 percent from the free throw line. Some of his struggles can be explained by lack of motivation, but there are some serious red flags with Rondo right now.
It makes sense that the only team to express serious interest in Rondo were the desperate Kings. Sacramento is trying to add talent to appease DeMarcus Cousins and any big names will do. The Kings cleared cap room to make a splash, but couldn't land their preferred targets and had to settle for the former All-Star point guard, who has a bond with forward Rudy Gay. The on-court fit is far from perfect -- Sacramento doesn't have shooters and will run the offense through Cousins but it's possible Rondo regains some of his magic playing for George Karl and his fast-paced system.
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