We learned earlier today that Bulls guard Rajon Rondo will miss the remainder of the first round and perhaps some of the next with a fractured thumb. That bad news complicates how the pending free agent’s summer might unfold, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News.
Though Rondo is signed through next year for $14MM, the Bulls can part ways with him should they choose to do so by June 30. Half-way through Chicago’s dysfunctional regular season, such a split seemed inevitable. These days, up two games to zero on the No. 1 seed Celtics, that’s not the case.
A strong finish to the regular season, coupled with his impact on the Bulls’ surprising first-round wins over Boston this week, have bumped the oft-maligned veteran’s value to its highest point in seasons.
Of course retaining Rondo would almost certainly delay Chicago’s supposedly inevitable rebuild, Deveney points out. Then again a team capable of threatening the top seed in their conference may not need to shake things up as badly as initially thought.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- Don’t underestimate the impact that Bobby Portis, Paul Zipser and Nikola Mirotic have had on their first-round series against Boston, Sam Smith of Chicago’s official team site writes. The Bulls big men have helped their team hop out to an unexpected two-game lead on the No. 1-seeded Celtics.
- After being questioned for comments he made about his Pacers teammates, Paul George has come out and defended himself, Clifton Brown of the Indianapolis Star writes. “Everybody knows how close I am with my teammates,” the All-Star said. “For [the media] to say I’m a selfish teammate, or I don’t think about my teammates, or I’m throwing my teammates under the bus? I didn’t say anything bad about my teammates, other than what I think my teammates can do down the stretch in order to help this team win.“
- Though his Cavaliers are up three games against the Pacers (two at the time), LeBron James speaks highly of Paul George, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal writes. “Paul George is one of those type of players that you have to just have your eyes on him every single possession because he’s capable of hurting you,” James said prior to Game 3.
- The way that the Bucks have been playing in their first-round matchup against the Raptors has served as a glimpse into the future, Genaro Armas of the Associated Press writes. While the emergence of Giannis Antetokounmpo is nothing new, it’s the first time they’ve been on full display on the national stage.
Aside from delaying an evitable rebuild process, I don’t see the benefit of keeping Rondo or Wade.
After watching tonight, there is no way the Bulls can let a Rondo go. How he even was squeezed out of the rotation at one point is beyond me. Neither Grant nor MCW can be an option at PG next season for them.
You can have him back then.
The Bulls need to rebuild with younger, more athletic players. I respect Rondo’s leadership, heart and intelligence, but he can’t hit a jumpshot and he’s only getting older. Send him to a contender or a team like Minnesota.
Rondo is still relatively young, however, and judging by his athleticism and quickness, the guy hasn’t lost a step at all. He will provide excellent leadership skills for the young guys.
Wade, however, DEFINITELY needs to go. He’s old (for pro basketball standards), slow, the jumper really isn’t there anymore, can’t play D, costs WAY too much, and he just bogs the offense down.
Thing is, Bulls will have absolutely nothing at PG next season. You can’t be too encouraged by Grant or MCW. MAYBE you can develop Payne, but that is definitely a project.
Keeping Rondo is just fine for the Bulls. Rondo can still run the floor and he can be a mentor for the younger guys.
You’re a Boston fan, right? You just went thru a rebuild, correct? How many veteran starters did you have? How many draft picks did you gain as a result? Now do you understand, or do I have to spell it out for you? R-E-B-U-I-L-D. We don’t need Rondo on a losing team.