It's also noteworthy to point out that this move wasn't exactly unexpected, since prior to
the season Rondo was listed as a -175 favorite to be traded.
Last
season Rondo averaged 11.8 assists in his lone season with the Sacramento Kings and joins a Bulls team with two skilled scorers: Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade.
Not exact matches
And if they're going to scapegoat last
season's problems on Rose - Butler not fitting together,
Rondo should be an even worse fit next to Jimmy.
The Celtics struggled through an up and down regular
season and enter the playoffs without one of their most dynamic playoff performers, Rajon
Rondo, who went down with a
season - ending injury in January.
There isn't tremendous pressure to perform amid a still - rebuilding roster, but if he flourishes as a creator to start the
season, the question changes from «can Smart fill
Rondo's shoes?»
With Rajon
Rondo out for at least the first couple weeks of the
season, No. 6 overall pick Marcus Smart is going to give being a true point guard a shot.
Chicago played a cluttered lineup of non-shooters, including Dwyane Wade and Rajon
Rondo last
season.
He had the best shooting
season of his career, hitting 41.4 percent from three and providing energy as Rajon
Rondo's backup.
After seeing a number of major trades earlier in the
season (including Rajon
Rondo to Dallas, Jeff Green to Memphis and Timofey Mozgov to Cleveland) it was somewhat shocking to see this flurry of activity.
Championship: Nuggets over Pistons in 5
Season MVP: Kyrie Irving Notable retirements at season's end: Rajon Rondo, Josh Smith, Amir Johnson, Rudy Gay, DeAndre Jordan, LaMarcus Aldridge Hall of Fame inductions
Season MVP: Kyrie Irving Notable retirements at
season's end: Rajon Rondo, Josh Smith, Amir Johnson, Rudy Gay, DeAndre Jordan, LaMarcus Aldridge Hall of Fame inductions
season's end: Rajon
Rondo, Josh Smith, Amir Johnson, Rudy Gay, DeAndre Jordan, LaMarcus Aldridge Hall of Fame inductions: none
Rajon
Rondo O / U for
Season Averages w / #Mavericks (via Bovada) 10 points, 5.5 rebounds & 11 assists per game.
It's interesting to note that following the trade of
Rondo, Dirk Nowitzki, who took a huge hometown discount to re-sign with the Mavericks this past off -
season, is now the lowest paid starter on the Mavericks.
Rondo is listed at -300 to play Game 1 of the 2015 - 16 regular
season with the Mavericks and +200 to play elsewhere.
With the
Rondo / Wade / Butler core, I expect Chicago to draw a similar amount of public support this
season, which could set them up to be profitable fade if that trio can not figure it out.
Russell Westbrook (21.1), LeBron James (19.3), Jokic (12.6), Harden (20.4), Cousins (18), Green (9.1), Griffin (17.3), Durant (18),
Rondo (7.4) and Payton (10.7) each took more shots than their
season average.