In this edition of the NBA PM: Boston Celtics should pay Rajon Rondo's asking price…Zydrunas Ilgauskas truly fine with coming off the bench…Nick Young needs to get more consistent…HOOPSWORLD chats.
Pay Rondo: While we sit back and wait for this whole "will Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo get an early extension a la Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Andrea Bargnani" thing to play out, there is one question many aren't asking. Does Rondo deserve the money? And how much?
Rondo's agent Bill Duffy says he is a top-five point guard and should be paid accordingly. Is he right?
First, you have to define what makes an effective point guard. Lots of assists are one way. A good assist-to-turnover ratio is another. Steals could be one. Then of course there are the things that simply don't measure well, things like leadership and court presence. And what about wins? Rondo has a ring, so let's just assume wins aren't the issue in deciding between the $9 million a year extension the Celtics have offered and the $12 million a year Rondo's camp would like.
Let's start simple – what about assists? Let's look at 2008-09 season numbers.
1 – Chris Paul – 11.0 per game
2 – Deron Williams – 10.7
3 – Steve Nash – 9.7
4 – Jose Calderon – 8.9
5 – Jason Kidd – 8.7
Rondo was sixth at 8.2. As far as a per 48 minutes stat, Rondo actually ranked higher than Kidd (12.0 to 11.7).
How about assist-turnover ratio?
1 – Calderon – 4.24 to 1
2 – Kidd – 3.8 to 1
3 – Paul – 3.73 to 1
4 – Derek Fisher – 3.62 to 1
5 – Steve Blake – 3.22 to 1
Rondo was seventh at 3.15 to 1. Williams was sixth and Nash 11th. Fisher and Blake both played significantly less minutes per game than the rest of the players mentioned.
Let's look at steals for point guards:
1 – Paul – 2.77
2 – Kidd – 1.98
3 – Mario Chalmers – 1.95
4 – Rondo – 1.86
5 – Raymond Felton – 1.54
Deron Williams finished at 1.07 and Nash was at only 0.74, way down the list.
What about scoring with regards to these other players?
1 - Paul – 22.8
2 - Tony Parker – 22.0
3 – Devin Harris – 21.3
4 – Deron Williams – 19.4
5 – Mo Williams – 17.8
Rondo only averaged 11.9 points a game.
So what do you do? Most of the players Rondo should be compared to – Paul, Kidd, Deron Williams, Nash – are big money players (Williams and Paul are just starting max extensions this season). Nash is making $13.1 million this year and Kidd is making $8.1 million, but both of them are also significantly older than the rest of the group. The only player out of the group who can remotely be considered in the same defensive class as Rondo is Paul.
Of course, Rondo is also the only player in that group with a Finals champ ring. He also helped run a team featuring three superstars to said title, and helped hold the team together last season in the playoffs.
Admittedly the Celtics have had some issues with Rondo's approach, but they have no issues at all with the results. How much of a dollar impact could that have?
If the Celtics don't pay him now, Rajon Rondo will absolutely become a max money player next summer. In fact, should the big three (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) all stay with their current teams, Rondo very likely will be the top target. With a max deal representing 25% of the cap for a player with four years of experience – which would describe Rondo next summer as a restricted free agent – matching a max offer will at minimum cost the Celtics a contract starting at $12.5 million per season (assuming the total cap is a low $50 million – could be higher, but probably not lower).
If the Celtics truly feel Rondo won't get that offer on the open market, they are fooling themselves.
So should they pay him now at the dollars Rondo's camp wants? It may be more than they want to pay, but it could be a steal compared to how much he will cost next summer.
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Z Doesn't Mind Bench: When the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired center Shaquille O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns this past summer, veteran Zydrunas Ilgauskas – a starter at center in Cleveland forever – knew he'd be moving to the bench. And you know what? It doesn't bother him at all. If it helps the team win games, Big Z is all for it. He used the preseason to get used to it.
"I really just look to get in better shape in preseason, keep improving," Ilgauskas told HOOPSWORLD. "That's why preseason is necessary, in my opinion, it gets you in better shape and it helps to get your timing back. It gets you acquainted with your new teammates, too. I think it's a useful time and I always try to take advantage of it."
He had plenty of new teammates besides Shaq. Swingmen Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon also joined the team.
But many people seemed to assume Ilgauskas would take exception to being moved to the bench. After all, he was an icon at the center spot, right? It's his job, right? Z doesn't see it that way – actually seeming surprised anyone would think he might have an issue with it.
"It's a little different coming off the bench, but it's still basketball, so I think eventually I'll figure out how to be useful for this team in this new role," explained Ilgauskas. "It's definitely a lot better having Shaq on my side than having to bang with him on an opposing team. Obviously, we won 66 games last year and it's hard to improve on that, but we made some improvements this summer and Shaq and I will share the role now. We have a lot of young guys in the mix now, as well, and it's a long season. There will be enough action for everybody."
Coming off the bench or starting, Ilgauskas approaches the game the same way.
"I really try to do the same things as if I were starting. I prepare the same way and everything. I obviously don't play as many minutes, so I'm doing some extra cardio here and there, just to stay in game shape, but mostly my game routine has not changed."
Big Z scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in the Cavs' first game of the season last night, coming off the bench in a regular season game for just the second time of his career (one game back in his rookie season of 1997-98).
Ilgauskas is one of the nicest guys around, always easygoing and adaptable no matter the situation. That attitude served him well early in his career when he had to go through multiple rehabilitations following foot fractures, and it will serve him well here as his career starts the back end.
Nick Young on the Outs: At one point last season guard Nick Young was the hottest player on the Washington Wizards. In the preseason he looked like he might be given the chance to start at the two alongside Gilbert Arenas.
Apparently that was then and this is now.
Young didn't play – the dreaded Coach's Decision as a reason – last night in the Wizards big win in Dallas. Apparently it drives Coach Flip Saunders crazy that he never knows what he is going to get from Young on any given night, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
"He's shown inconsistency," Saunders said. "He hasn't shown an ability to grasp everything we're trying to do, the way we, or ideally how we want to play. If one guy is screwing up your offense or defense, the whole team looks bad. I talked to him about that [on Monday]. He has to become direction oriented in order to understand what those assignments are. And be able to follow out those assignments."
Saunders is likely referring to defense and according to Lee Young has admitted to struggling with focus when his shot won't fall. That could be a serious problem; with players like Randy Foye and Mike Miller also in the swingman rotation Saunders doesn't have to deal with Young if he can't concentrate. Foye and Miller are both very confident players who don't let some missed shots get in the way of the rest of their game.
Young should start taking notes.
HOOPSWORLD Chats: Joel Brigham is off the chat schedule this week due to the Chicago Bulls game tomorrow evening (check out his Courtside report tomorrow evening), so that means I'm next on the chat schedule here at HOOPSWORLD Thursday at 8pm Eastern Time. Coach Anthony Macri follows up Friday morning at 10am Eastern Time. With the season underway there will be plenty to talk about and analyze from the first couple days of games. What stands out? What surprised? Remember - get your questions in early for the best shot at getting them answered! For all the complete chat wraps, click here!
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