Rajon Rondo thinks the Kings never jelled as a team and "didn't sacrifice enough for one another" last season. Now, he's hoping a change of scenery will lead him to a more comfortable environment.
Rajon Rondo agrees to a 2-year, $28 million deal with the Bulls, per report
Rondo is headed to Chicago to help fill the void left by Derrick Rose.
The 10-year veteran has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, according to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. Sam Amick has added that there is a "mutual buyout" for the second year.
Rondo may not have jelled in Sacramento, but he still managed to lead the league in assists for the 33-49 Kings. His 2015-16 performance was a key return to form for the 6’1 point guard. He split his 2014-15 season between Boston and Dallas and suffered significant drops in field goal percentage (.426) and assists per game (7.9) while rocking a free throw percentage (.397) that even Shaquille O’Neal could laugh at.
While a career-high 24.7 percent turnover rate plagued his lone season on the west coast, his performance was a return to the form that made him a four-time All-Star with the Celtics. While few can pass like him in the NBA, there are concerns about how Rondo fits in the modern NBA with his lack of shooting and constant need for the ball to be effective.
At 30 years old, Rondo has reached the point where his skills are likely to decline. He’s long relied on his athleticism and waterbug-quick lateral movement to carve into the paint and create defensive confusion. That speed and his long arms have also helped earn him a reputation as a stout defender. He’s been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive team four times and finished in the top 10 in the league in terms of defensive win shares four times -- although he hasn’t earned either accolade since 2012.
However, Rondo has proven time and again he can win the mental battle each time he steps on the court. In the past year alone, he’s
- sniffed out the Hawks' last second play in a 91-88 game before they could even run it.
- used every legal trick he could think of to ice Kemba Walker at the free throw line of a one-point game with no time on the clock.
- tried to get inside Deron Williams's head by fake tripping him from the sideline.
So even if Rondo’s skills decline, the Bulls are still getting the basketball equivalent of the Joker. His hyper-competitive nature, along with his vision and passing skill, could be enough to overcome any looming deficiencies in his game. It’s a gamble, but Chicago is investing in a four-time All-Star and former NBA Champion who has proven he can thrive in the right environment.
The question now is whether that environment still exists in today’s NBA.
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