Rajon Rondo Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Central Notes: Ellenson, KCP, Rondo, Shumpert

January 13th, 2017 at 3:00pm CST by Austin Kent

While the absence of Jon Leuer has hurt a Pistons team desperate to regain its footing in the East, it has opened an opportunity for first-round pick Henry Ellenson to play meaningful minutes for once. This week Ellenson checked into a game in the first half for the first time this season writes Pistons.com editor Keith Langlois.

“It felt different, for sure,” the 20-year-old Pistons big man told Langlois of the matchup against the Kings. “It felt good to be out there, to be a part of the rotation. […] For me, personally, it was nice to get some of that action.”

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy reiterated how important it will be to have Ellenson available as the team returns to health in the coming days. Leuer is expected to be sidelined for at least two more games.

“We need all hands on deck,” Van Gundy said, before clarifying that while the rookie may be relied upon more than he has been thus far, it’s unlikely he’ll see “great big minutes” for the Pistons.

Elsewhere in the Central Division:

The Pistons haven’t played up to a standard that Van Gundy is happy with, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News, but the head coach believes that his team is capable of it. “I thought the early part of the year — probably the second 10 games or so — we got to where we were playing at a high level and we haven’t been able to gain a rhythm since then,” Van Gundy said. “This last 20 games, I haven’t done a good enough job of getting us to play at the level we’re capable of playing at“.
The results of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s Friday MRI are in and the shooting guard suffered a Grade 2 left rotator cuff strain. The team’s official press release states that he’ll be doubtful for the Pistons through the weekend, with his status continually reevaluated and updated.
Point guard Rajon Rondo called his punitive benching by Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg a “slap in the face,” writes Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago, but the veteran also says that the decision wasn’t unexpected.
The Cavaliers will insert Iman Shumpert into the starting lineup in place of DeAndre Liggins, says Sam Amico of NEO Sports Insiders. Liggins and Shumpert have shared time at the position since starter J.R. Smith broke his thumb.

Central Notes: Griffin, Korver, Rondo, Leuer

January 11th, 2017 at 10:11am CST by Luke Adams

Within a piece exploring a handful of David Griffin‘s underappreciated moves for the Cavaliers, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com writes that the Cavs general manager will get right back to work after consummating a pair of deals last week. Having landed a veteran sharpshooter in Kyle Korver, Griffin will move on to the next item on the team’s wish list: a backup point guard.

Perhaps more interestingly, Windhorst also passes along a detail on Griffin’s contract, reporting that it’s set to expire at season’s end. Given the fact that he won a championship last year and has built a roster that looks capable of contending for years to come, Griffin shouldn’t be in any danger at all, so it will be interesting to see if he and the Cavaliers work out an extension anytime soon.

Here’s more out of the Central on the Cavs and some of their division rivals:

Korver didn’t have a memorable debut for the Cavaliers on Tuesday night, scoring just two points in 18 minutes. Still, he’s excited about his new home, calling Cleveland the “most talented team I’ve ever been on,” as Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal details. LeBron James gave some advice to his new teammate this week, telling Korver he wants to see him shoot early and often, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
After sharing some candid thoughts on Tuesday about his recent benching, Rajon Rondo returned to the court for the Bulls later in the night, playing for the first time in 2017. As K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune reports, Rondo played well enough that head coach Fred Hoiberg said he expected the point guard to remain in the rotation going forward — for now, at least.
Jon Leuer, who had been starting for the Pistons, left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, and while Stan Van Gundy indicated it’s likely not serious, Leuer may miss a few games. Rod Beard of The Detroit News, who notes that rookie Henry Ellenson may receive some more minutes in Leuer’s absence, has the details and quotes.

Rajon Rondo Talks Situation With Bulls

January 10th, 2017 at 7:02pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rajon Rondo, whose status with the team remains unclear, said a member of the Bulls’ coaching staff told him that the team was trying to “save him from himself,” as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune relays (series of Twitter links). Rondo was told that he was playing poorly during a game against the Pacers—the one where he was initially benched—and that was a major reason why the team took action.

“Save me from myself,” Rondo lamented. “I never heard that before in my life. But I guess he was trying to do the best thing for me.”

Rondo added that he didn’t appreciate the team’s comments. Rondo was asked if he and coach Fred Hoiberg have spoken much about the situation. “Um. How can I say this? No,” Rondo said. “We speak. Cordial. Nothing much to say.”

A member of Chicago’s public relation staff attempted to end the media session midway through the interview, but Rondo said he would like to continue, as Johnson passes along (additional series of Twitter links). “I haven’t had this much attention in awhile,” Rondo said.

Rondo added that when he signed with Chicago, he envisioned things going differently and called the situation the most confusing of his career. He’s played in 29 games for the Bulls this season, posting the lowest points and minutes totals since his rookie season.

Rondo is playing tonight for the first time since being benched late last month. The point guard hasn’t seen NBA action in nearly two weeks, but said he’s been trying to stay in shape by playing pick-up games at a local middle school. He’ll be the team’s sixth man while Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler are absent from the lineup.

Cavs Remain Likely To Address Backup PG Spot

January 5th, 2017 at 8:52am CST by Luke Adams

With Kyrie Irving out of action on Wednesday night and Iman Shumpert needed off the ball, the Cavaliers’ point guard duties fell to Jordan McRae, Kay Felder, and LeBron James during the team’s loss to Chicago. Asked after the game about the point guard spot, James acknowledged that it has been “obvious since day one” that the team lacks a “reliable veteran” to back up Irving.

“Kay’s in the process of learning on the fly,” James said, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. “He’s a rookie and is going to have his mistakes and things of that nature. It’s tough on him because we’re a franchise trying to win a championship. He has to have a fast-track mind. But we don’t have a backup point guard.”

As LeBron noted last night, the Cavs’ hole at point guard has been a topic of discussion all season. Still, the team’s injuries lately have further depleted that spot. At the start of the season, James, Shumpert, and J.R. Smith all assumed some ball-handling duties when Irving was on the bench, but with Smith sidelined and Shumpert playing on the wing, Cleveland has been forced to explore other options, with McRae and Felder getting more reps.

The Cavaliers have kept their eyes open all season long for a veteran backup point guard, but there are reasons to believe the team will address the issue soon. Teams can sign players to 10-day contracts as of today, and James’ comments may spur the Cavs to seek out a short-term fix.

Additionally, as ESPN’s Marc Stein details, several veteran point guards on the free agent market – including Jarrett Jack, Mario Chalmers, and Norris Cole – are getting healthy and will be looking to land NBA jobs. Vardon mentions Chalmers as someone on the Cavs’ radar, and notes that the team is also keeping an eye on the Rajon Rondo situation in Chicago. The Cleveland.com scribe isn’t sure either player is a fit for the Cavs, but it’s clear the club is considering all its options.

According to Sam Amico of NEO Sports Insiders (Twitter link), the Cavs are “highly likely” to add a veteran point guard soon enough.

Bulls Notes: Rondo, Wade, Butler

January 4th, 2017 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

After being removed from his starting point guard role, Rajon Rondo met with Bulls executives Gar Forman and John Paxson over the weekend, and tells Nick Friedell of ESPN.com that the meeting “went OK.” However, as Friedell details, Rondo also said that there “really wasn’t a clear-cut message” from the front office, and said that he expects to talk to Forman and Paxson again at some point.

Rondo didn’t get into specifics about the meeting or about what’s next for him — when asked whether the Bulls’ front office is open to accommodating a trade, the veteran point guard said he’d leave that talk for his agent and Bulls management.

Here’s more on Rondo, along with some other Bulls notes:

Dwyane Wade weighed in on his teammate’s benching, suggesting that Rondo has “handled it great” (link via Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com). “But it still sucks,” Wade added. “It’s unfortunate.”
Rondo’s situation may be up in the air, but don’t expect Wade to offer input on what his backcourt mate’s role should be, or how the Bulls might alter their roster. Asked today if he gets involved in personnel decisions, Wade said he doesn’t “get paid to do that,” as K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune reports (all Twitter links). “Don’t put me into none of that,” Wade said. “No upstairs, no downstairs decisions by Dwyane Wade.”
ESPN’s roundtable, including Friedell, Kevin Pelton, David Thorpe, and others, tackled a few Bulls-related questions, discussing whether the Bulls should be buyers or sellers, and attempting to determine what sort of deals the team might be seeking (Insider-only link). The general consensus: Chicago should be a seller at the deadline, and Rondo probably won’t finish the season with the team, but Jimmy Butler isn’t going anywhere.

Central Notes: Rondo, Hoiberg, McRae, Jefferson

January 2nd, 2017 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

A Sunday report indicated that Rajon Rondo would likely seek a trade from the Bulls if he remains on the bench going forward, and it doesn’t appear the team intends to insert him back into the starting lineup. As Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details, head coach Fred Hoiberg hedged a little during his conversation with reporters today, but it sounds like Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant will handle point guard duties for now, with Rondo on the bench.

Hoiberg gave Rondo credit for handling his demotion with professionalism, and the head coach suggested he’s open to changing his plans depending on how things play out. Still, unless Rondo gets a regular spot in the rotation back within the next few days, it seems as if the Bulls and the veteran point guard may be heading for a separation. Rondo is already a trade candidate, and if Chicago can’t find a taker, there’s a chance he’ll become a release candidate later in the season as well — his salary for 2017/18 is only partially guaranteed for $3MM, and that cap hit could be spread out over multiple seasons.

Here’s more from around the Central division:

The Bulls haven’t yet engaged in buyout talks or trade talks for Rondo, but the former All-Star is unlikely to stay upbeat if he rides the pine for long, says Goodwill in another CSNChicago.com piece. As Goodwill writes, the Rondo situation is just one of many potential problems in Chicago, as the team finds itself at a crossroads.
In the wake of last week’s report that Hoiberg’s seat is getting hotter, Tom Ziller of SBNation.com argues that firing the head coach would be a short-sighted and ill-advised move for the Bulls.
Jordan McRae, one of two Cavaliers players on a non-guaranteed contract, had played sparingly for the team this season and hadn’t scored double-digit points in a game until Saturday, when he got a rare start and went off for 20 points. Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com has the details on McRae’s performance, which the Cavs will have to take into account as they decide whether to keep the 25-year-old on the roster.
Al Jefferson, who signed a three-year deal with the Pacers in July, viewed Indiana as an ideal fit and has been proven right so far, according to Jordan J. Wilson of The Indianapolis Star.

Rondo Will Seek Trade If Benching Persists

January 1st, 2017 at 7:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls guard Rajon Rondo plans to ask for a trade if his benching becomes permanent, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

Rondo sat out his first full game Saturday, then met with GM Gar Forman and executive vice president John Paxson afterward. Rondo told them the same thing he told reporters, which is that he will “absolutely” request a trade if he is not getting regular playing time.

Coach Fred Hoiberg may use Rondo as part of the reserve unit, but his time as a starter in Chicago appears to be over. If Rondo comes off the bench, Hoiberg may alter Dwyane Wade‘s minutes because he and Rondo haven’t effective when playing together.

Rondo and Wade were the Bulls’ major free agent acquisitions over the summer, but there were concerns that their games were too similar for them to work in tandem. Both like to drive to the basket, and neither is especially dangerous as a 3-point shooter. Talking to reporters Saturday, Rondo refused to criticize the way the roster was constructed.

“I’m not going to say that,” Rondo said. “Am I going to think it? I thought a lot the last 24 hours. I thought a lot all season. I’m trying to figure out a way to help this team grow and get some wins.”

Rondo has experienced run-ins with coaches during past stops in his NBA career, but Hoiberg said his behavior has been good apart from a one-game suspension for throwing a towel at associate head coach Jim Boylen. Hoiberg’s decision to bench Rondo stems from his production rather than off-court incidents.

Rondo is averaging 7.1 assists per game for the Bulls after leading the league with 11.7 per night last season with the Kings. His scoring average has also dropped from 11.9 to 7.2 points per game.

“I’m coming off not necessarily my best year but a pretty good year in Sacramento. I was able to do things a little bit differently,” Rondo said. “Obviously, coming here playing with Dwyane and Jimmy [Butler] I knew would be different. Fred and I talked in the beginning, said I would be able to call a lot of the plays. The flow of the game and throughout the season, things may change.”

Even if Rondo does request a deal, nothing is expected to happen until closer to the February 23d deadline, Johnson tweets. Rondo is making $14MM this season and nearly $13.4MM next season, but only $3MM of his 2017/18 salary is guaranteed before July 1st.

Rondo’s Future With Bulls In Doubt

January 1st, 2017 at 10:04am CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo asked for a meeting with GM Gar Forman after Saturday’s game to discuss his future with the team, writes Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.

Saturday was the first full game of Rondo’s benching after being pulled in the second half Friday. He wasn’t used at all as Chicago suffered a 20-point loss at home to the Bucks to fall to 16-18.

“Gar and I will have a talk,” Rondo said after the game. “We’ll talk tonight and go from there. I don’t know if it’s right now, maybe the next 30, 18, 45 minutes. Tonight, before ’17 [the clock strikes midnight].”

The uncertainty surrounding the 11-year veteran comes six months after he signed a two-year, $27.4MM deal with the Bulls. Rondo remains productive, leading the league in assists last season and averaging 7.1 per game this year, but has changed teams three times in the past 24 months.

He answered “absolutely” Saturday night when asked if he thought he has done enough in his career for the Bulls to send him to another organization if they don’t plan to play him. A source told Goodwill that a buyout has not yet been discussed. Rondo has just a $3MM guarantee for next season.

“I’m gonna explode…No, I’m not,” said Rondo. “I’m gonna continue to work, get some work in, play some one on one. Take care of my body, lift and give these young guys as much advice while I’m on the bench.”

Rondo met Saturday morning with coach Fred Hoiberg, who said he looked “slow” during the last five games and questioned Rondo’s health. Rondo responded that he has never felt better at this point of a season.

Community Shootaround: Rajon Rondo

December 31st, 2016 at 6:14pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Bulls benched Rajon Rondo for the second half of their game on Friday night and the point guard will remain out of the starting lineup. Michael Carter-Williams will start for the team. against the Bucks tonight and it’s unclear whether or not Rondo will even see back-up minutes.

Coach Fred Hoiberg had a meeting with Rondo this morning and the coach said Rondo “handled it well,” according to Nick Friedell of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link). Hoiberg added that the decision to take Rondo out of the starting line-up was not done as a disciplinary measure, as Vincent Goodwill of Comcast Sportnet relays (Twitter link).

After Friday’s game, Rondo said the benching was a not big deal, as Goodwill passes along in a full-length piece. “Things happen,” Rondo said. “It’s not life and death. Life is too short to be unhappy. It’s part of it, if I start, great. If I don’t, as long as we get the win that’s all that matters.”

Rondo was Chicago’s prized free agent acquisition, but Dwyane Wade‘s decision to come to the team just 12 days later overshadowed Rondo’s signing and created an overlap in skill sets within the backcourt. The point guard hasn’t played well since arriving in the Windy City. He’s only scoring 7.2 points per contest, which is the lowest figure since his rookie season, and he’s sporting a career low 11.2 player efficiency rating.

The down season is partly due to a reduced role, as his 16.6 usage rate is his lowest since his rookie campaign. Playing off the ball is not a strength of Rondo’s; he needs to the ball in his hand to make an impact. A change in scenery may be the best case scenario for the Kentucky product, perhaps to a team that will allow him to utilize his play-making skills.

Do you think the Bulls should trade Rondo? What team would make sense for the point guard and what could Chicago get back in return? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Bulls Notes: Hoiberg, Rondo, Lineup

December 30th, 2016 at 9:15pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning a pair of games earlier this week, the Bulls slipped below .500 with another loss today, and now have a 6-10 record for the month of December. With the team slipping down the Eastern Conference standings, a report today from ESPN’s Marc Stein suggested that Chicago is “increasingly assessing the coaching fit” of Fred Hoiberg, who is in his second year with the franchise. Asked before today’s game about that report, Hoiberg dismissed the idea that he’s worried about his job security, as Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details.

“Someone just mentioned something to me about that,” the Bulls head coach said of Stein’s report. “You know I don’t know anything about it, so I’m not going to comment on it. I’ve got a job to do, which is to try and put this team in a position to go out and win basketball games. Like probably 24 other coaches I’m trying to find a way for us to go out and play consistent basketball on a nightly basis.”

According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are likely to stay the course with Hoiberg for now. There are a handful of reasons why it makes sense for the team to hold off on a coaching change, and Hoiberg’s contract is one significant factor, Johnson notes. With three and a half years still left on that deal, Chicago would be on the hook for more than $17MM if the club parted ways with its head coach.

Here’s more from out of Chicago:

According to Goodwill, members of Bulls management also downplayed the report of Hoiberg being on the hot seat, shooting it down with “one-word texts and dismissive comments.” Jimmy Butler weighed in after today’s loss as well, per Goodwill (Twitter link). “We go out there, we play, we fight with him,” Butler said of Hoiberg. “It’s over my head. He ain’t on no hot seat to me.”
Rajon Rondo was benched during the second half of today’s loss to the Pacers after struggling in the first half. As Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes, it’s the second time this week that Rondo has been on the bench for the Bulls down the stretch, and Hoiberg hasn’t decided whether or not the veteran point guard will remain in the starting lineup for the team’s next game on Sunday.
For his part, Rondo handled the benching well, telling reporters that he didn’t get an explanation from Hoiberg but didn’t need to make it “a big deal,” per Friedell. “[Hoiberg] and [assistant coach] Jim [Boylen] made some decisions,” Rondo said. “It’s what it is.”
Hoiberg sounds like he might be ready to shake up the Bulls’ lineup going forward. “We have some decisions to make moving forward with our team,” the head coach said after today’s game (Twitter link via Goodwill).