Ainge Confirms Rondo Talks Will Begin

by Jeff Clark on Sep 17, 2009 8:11 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

President of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed today the Celtics will begin contract negotiations with Rondo, who has one year remaining on his contract and is seeking an extension, and agent Bill Duffy.

"We'll have an opportunity to sit down with Rajon and get something done," Ainge said before the Shamrock golf tournament at Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord. "Those conversations won't take a long time, I don't think. Rajon is in a situation where we certainly want him and consider him a big part of our future. This time of year, it's one of those circumstances where we would want a deal that's good for us and gives us security and he wants a deal that's good for him. I think we'll know after a few conversations if we are close and whether we can get a deal done or not. I haven't had a conversation with him. I don't think they know where I stand and I don't know where they stand, so, at some point we'll get together and have that discussion."

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Yes! Good news for the future!

by drod400 on Sep 17, 2009 8:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

It doesn't look like there's time for long conversations anyway...

Rondo posted on his facebook that he’s going to Germany to support the troops.

by Pengaloo on Sep 17, 2009 8:45 PM EDT reply actions

I’d sign him for 5years @ 55 Million.

by jesse_stoneham on Sep 17, 2009 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

If the Celtics really want this done, it’ll get done. 5 years 40 million or there abouts…. He’s still so young that he’s really worth some real money…

by liamail on Sep 17, 2009 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

No way!

8 mil. a year. He’ll get at least 12 mil. Projection of worth goes into these long contracts. 8 mil. is not reasonable by anyone’s standards.

by B-ball on Sep 18, 2009 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

it’s wyc et.al.‘s $$, so i won’t venture any money guesses, but if i was wyc, i’d pay up for rondo but all this nocioni talk- yuck- a nice player but not a nice price- way too much.

by nazzbo on Sep 17, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

Good

Its been too long

by AT-360 on Sep 17, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Didn’t Rondo say that this sounded like a fair deal in June after the playoffs? I would love to get him for 8mill/yr, but I think talks definitely begin at 10mill and go up from there. I do think he is worth it. He doesn’t seem like the kind of player that is suddenly going to be horrible. His intangibles and ‘bball iq’ make him a pretty safe bet for the future, and the playoffs only solidified that.

It sounds like Ainge is saying all of the right things this time around (after apparently trying to trade him)- hopefully they can get this done…

by jambr380 on Sep 17, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

Absolutely 5 years for 50 million

Rondo is a top ten point guard, whose only flaw can be fixed, and whose only 24 years old. His play alone in last year’s playoffs is worth that much, and his potential, which is right up there with Chris Paul, is max contract. Lock him up now, get this deal done now, and save money in the future for at least one more star player at some point in the Post-Big 3 era. If Rondo’s improvement from year to year has told us anything, its that he will once again improve this year, and he will probably get a much larger offer than 5 yrs for 50 mil next summer.

by misterx2day on Sep 17, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

Clearly NOT a "max contract" player...

…Not until he establishes a jump shot that the opposition can respect.

It would also help if he could learn to play…without twisting an ankle three times per month.

Anything over $8M per year will not go over big with Danny/Wyc.

by Title 18 on Sep 17, 2009 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

That would be insulting...

I can’t imagine they would ever get anything done at 8 mill a year. The thing is, Rondo may have one of the most unpredictable values in the NBA today. Is there someone who would give Rondo a max offer? Maybe, but that would seem too high. If he continues to improve through this year, then it is entirely possible. Then we have people saying nothing over 8 mill- as I said earlier, I think negotiations begin at 10mill and proceed from there…and I definitely think he is worth it. To put it in perspective, that is less than Raef and Wally were making- and they had nowhere near the potential that Rondo has.

by jambr380 on Sep 18, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Great post...

I couldn’t agree more. I actually think he gets 12 mil a year or more. Someone WILL eventually pay that for him. If isn’t the Celtics it will be someone else like Dallas, Orlando, Cleveland, Portland, etc. You don’t think Mark Cuban will jump on that? Think about Rondo on a team like the Trail Blazers with their current roster, or how about Atlanta. That wouldn’t be a hard choice for me if I was a GM of an up and coming team. Some people only focus on his jump shot. Truth is, he is a 10 mil. player without one. How much is he worth with a consistant one? Sky is the limit.

by B-ball on Sep 18, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

None of those teams would/could pay for Rondo

Dallas just signed Jason Kidd to fat new contract. Why would they want Rondo? They also won’t have a cap space for a 10 mil. backup.

Orlando has All-Star Jameer Nelson, and no cap space. No reason for Rondo.

Portland just signed Andre Miller to a big contact. No need.

Atlanta just resigned Mike Bibby for three years and Jeff Teague is on the books through at least the next season, so there’s no reason for them to make Rondo an offer.

The only team that you listed that kinda makes sense is Cleveland, where they could move Mo to the 2, and send Delonte to the bench as a key reserve, But they are going to use every dime they have to resign Lebron, and probably Shaq.

If Rondo were to go anywhere, it would be a scrub team like Sac, Charlotte, and Indy, because they are they only ones that can afford him and have a need for PG.

by KY Celts fan on Sep 18, 2009 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree.

This a different economic time for the NBA. The caps going to be coming way down next year and the players strike is looming. That may also effect what a player can get. Rondo would be smart to sign a contract. Teams will also be reluctant to offer knowing Boston will match. Just like baby this year. People were saying baby would get 6 million a year and he got half that. If Rondo has a bad year or gets hurt he could lose a lot of money.

by liamail on Sep 18, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Fronload it

I say frontload that contract, include him in a trade for Wade, and build a real dynasty.

by Celtico on Sep 18, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

YES, please get this kid locked up for a long time.

"Do you know that nonbelievers create the most positive energy?" Davis said

by Birdbrain on Sep 18, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

Queston from the enemy

Hey all, just your resident Pistons fan with a quick question for you:

Do you think Ainge undervalues Rondo?

Personally, I think Rondo is an elite, arguably top-five PG (in spite of the fact that he hasn’t developed a jump shot yet). Which is why the rumor earlier this summer involving a trade for Allen/Rondo and Rip/Tay/Stuckey was actually interesting to me.

Anyway, penny for your thoughts.

by brgulker on Sep 18, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions