Celtics Will Talk Extension With Rondo

by Jeff Clark on Sep 16, 2009 9:50 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Asked if he was optimistic about an upcoming contract negotiation, Rondo replied: "Not really. I'm just playing it out, trying to get better every day."

A league source said the Celtics plan to hold talks with Rondo before the start of training camp later this month. Rondo has one year and an option remaining on his contract.

Ainge said earlier in the offseason that he would conduct talks with Rondo and Ray about contract extensions but this is the first word that we've gotten about those talks actually starting.

At one point Cedric Maxwell reported that Rondo would be willing to sign for 5 years, $50 million. Should be interesting to see how close they come to those numbers.

There was also a Kevin Garnett update.

"Kevin looks good, he's in here working out every day," Ainge said today from the team's practice facility in Waltham. "He's doing his training but he's not playing fullcourt basketball, yet. We're taking it as slow and as cautious as we can with him. He's anxious and he has a ton of energy, but I think he gets it. We don't have bodyguards on him to keep him from working too hard. He's on the program with the staff. We don't have timetables on this. We are going week to week and we'll make a decision on where he is."

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hope this gets done

I want him locked up

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Sep 16, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

what does it mean that he's not optimistic

about an upcoming contract negotiation? Am I reading too much into a sentence or does it sound like Rondo not want to negotiate thinking that he can get more next year?

by Pengaloo on Sep 16, 2009 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

yeah, I didn’t know what to make of that response – I think he was just trying to avoid the question but maybe he’s looking at the Davis negotiations and feeling like Ainge is going to take a hard line

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Sep 16, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm...

Danny’s comment on KG sounds like it could have been plucked verbatim from his quotes during KG’s attempt to return for the playoffs last year. Basically, we don’t really know anything. Guess we’ll all be able to judge soon enough.

by KJ33 on Sep 16, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

that’s basically how i read it, but it’s early so i’m going to just take it at face value.

by Berkcelt on Sep 16, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn't the company line up until now that he should be back playing by the opening of camp?

by clover on Sep 17, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Rondo is the future! He is a consistent 3pt shot away from bing great! http://thetruthsports.com

by thetruthsports on Sep 16, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

More like, he is a consistent 3pt shot away from being a superstar. He is already great.

by stevenfuzz on Sep 17, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

"A Million here a Million there..."

I don’t have any idea what kind of numbers make business sense…To me, Rondo’s Top Shelf", but 50 million makes my popcorn decompose…HaHa!…You guys can talk about money…I like Thoreau: live deliberately!….“Ego sum pauper, nihil habeo, cormeum dabo”…I may have no money, but I’ve got a library card. Hope this doesn’t turn into an accountant’s picnic…

by BoundingRounder on Sep 16, 2009 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

The Garnett comment

It’s not a comforting comment. It does remind me of last year. I still think he will be fine. Danny just talks that way,and he is protecting himself. Rondo will not sign it this year though.I wish.

by green20 on Sep 17, 2009 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

Rondo should sign.

His value is high right now and though it could go higher, he could always get hurt. Him signing a good size contract this year makes sense. 4 year 35 million or something like that.

by liamail on Sep 17, 2009 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions

it’s good that Ainge is at least willing to talk to Rondo

by tenor1n2 on Sep 17, 2009 3:15 AM EDT reply actions

KG

Needs to start actually “balling” it up. This is sounding a lot like last year. Still. Meh

"....you can't handle The Truth"

by kheeko on Sep 17, 2009 3:29 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

….pray for a healthy knee all the time… I just don’t want to see K.G. dying on the bench….

I asked god and he said: L.A. will lose again next year!! ^_°

by greenmech on Sep 17, 2009 4:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm optimistic about Rondo's extension but...

The quotes about KG worry me since they are basically the same than before the playoffs last year…

by Drucci on Sep 17, 2009 6:27 AM EDT reply actions

Good management

KG can’t even take it easy in practice thus probably better to keep him away from scrimmaging. I’m confident the knee is fine if they say so but it is a 34-35 year old knee pinned underneath a basketball maniac. Take it easy KG.

AS far as Rondo, he’ll get his money, now or later, so keep the conversation friendly, remind him how much you see him in the future (since the other signal was also sent after year end) and sign him to multi year deal if he wants it. How much per year and how many years are in the good hands of Danny

by Wildblu1 on Sep 17, 2009 6:41 AM EDT reply actions

not that worried

I bet KG could play right now, but why not be even more careful when there’s no reason to push it?

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Sep 17, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed but.....

I don’t like the sound of that. Simmons was saying all along last Spring that there was some concern that the injury might be career altering….and he’s obviously got his sources around the league. He just tweeted something to this effect.

We’ll see.

But I agree there’s no reason to rush. Without him this is still a 55+ win team if everyone else stays healthy.

by Kuberski33 on Sep 17, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Ray Allen better be paying attention to Rondo's negotiations

Because as far as I am concerned whatever Rondo gets in his first year of an escalating salary is probably going to be the starting point of a decreasing 3 year deal with a team option on the third year for Ray. In 2010-11, Ray Allen, simply put, is not going to be worth more money than Rajon Rondo. So if Rondo gets a 5 year/$50 million deal from the team starting at around $8 million per in 2010-11, I would expect Ray’s deal to start at $8 million per and maybe go to $7 million and then $6 million the following years.

I think this would keep some financial stability in the numbers for the starting back court if the Celtics decided to keep Ray Allen around after this year, which I still am not willing to believe is a 100% certainty. Also, by keeping their numbers at around $16 million per year combined, that should free up enough cash to extend Perk at a good rate and keep some overall fiscal stability in the team until the Big Three sail into the sunset.

by nickagneta on Sep 17, 2009 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

great point

I’d love to see Ray on board for another 3 yr/ 20-25 mil. I think he has got a lot of game left in him. This is one guy who isn’t looking forward to all the Trade Ray speculation that’ll get served up this year, hopefully Danny extends him soon and squashes all that.

by D Dub on Sep 17, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions