Boston Press laughs at Suns....

[da_suns_fan]

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By John Tomase
Friday, June 20, 2008 - Added 12h ago
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Patriots beat writer John Tomase joined the Herald in 2005 after six years covering the Red Sox.

The Phoenix Suns dealt away the draft rights to Rajon Rondo [stats] two years ago, and here’s what they have to show for it: cash.
That’s it. Hopefully it was a lot of money, because Rondo may just go down as the steal of the 2006 draft.
It’s amazing to think that the 22-year-old starting point guard for the world champion Celtics [team stats] could have been had for so little. On draft day 2006, the C’s sent Cleveland’s 2007 first-round pick, which they acquired for Jiri Welsch, to Phoenix for the rights to Rondo, the 21st overall pick out of Kentucky.

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A year later, the Suns then shipped that pick (No. 24, Rudy Fernandez) and James Jones to the Trail Blazers for cash considerations.
The deal was all about the salary cap for both teams, helping Portland create a trade exception and the Suns to shed payroll. Though the sum of money was not disclosed, it’s a safe bet if the Suns knew then what they know now, they’d be grooming Steve Nash’s heir apparent instead of watching him celebrate a title with the Celtics.
From Rondo’s perspective, the deal could not have worked out any better. He apprenticed under Sebastian Telfair [stats] for a year, then took the reins and never looked back.
“We always say in this league that you’re fortunate,” Celtics guard Ray Allen said. “You’re fortunate to be drafted by the team that drafted you, based on the players there that set great examples of leadership for you. Not only the players, but the organization and how they do business and the coaching staff and how they make sure you grow and learn. (Rondo) took it all in and made the most of it.”
It’s quite possible that without Rondo the Celtics don’t win the title. While the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce [stats] and Allen gave the Celts their cornerstones, someone needed to get them the ball. And even though it’s hard to believe now, back in October, there were serious concerns if Rondo could be that guy. He only played two years of college ball, he wasn’t much of a shooter and he had almost no experience quarterbacking an NBA team, let alone a title contender.
But Rondo never lost faith in his abilities. Neither did the organization.
“Coach (Doc) Rivers and Danny Ainge had a lot of confidence in me, so I wasn’t trying to prove myself to anybody out there,” Rondo said. “They’ve had confidence in me since Day 1. I worked hard all summer in the weight room so I’d be ready to come in and run the show.”
Rondo averaged 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists. His 1.7 steals a game ranked eighth in the NBA, and he improved his shooting from 41.8 percent to 49.2 percent this year.
Rondo quickly discovered where teammates liked the ball, whether it was Garnett hitting the block, Allen popping free in the corner, or Pierce spotting up on either wing.
“It’s not hard playing with the Big Three,” Rondo said. “They’re not big-headed. They’re humble and they want to be treated like regular players.”
And they also know how to make their point guard look good.
“They make me look confident,” Rondo said. “When I’m out there with them, they make the game a lot easier for me. All I’ve got to do is play defense and take shots when I’m open. It’s not that difficult, especially playing with guys who can create their own shots. The role of the point guard in this league is to create shots for other players, and sometimes I do that, but a lot of times it’s just get the ball to Paul, Ray Allen or KG and let them do their thing.”
Rondo did that as well as anyone this year. Here’s hoping the Suns bought themselves something nice.


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What DID they buy? A new ivory back scratcher for Sarver?

 

[Mainstreet]

The Boston Celtics have no reason to laugh. In recent history they sent the Suns Joe Johnson for essentially Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. I bet they selectively forget that. Still there is no defending the Suns about not keeping Rondo.

 

[WuRaider]

Someone buy Tomase Wii Fit.

 

[da_suns_fan]

The Boston Celtics have no reason to laugh. In recent history they sent the Suns Joe Johnson for essentially Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. I bet they selectively forget that. Still there is no defending the Suns about not keeping Rondo.

At least Boston got something in return...they used Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk to get to the Eastern conference finals that same year.

Plus, they get the last laugh considering we lost Joe Johnson when we didn't want to pay him either.

By "we" I mean Mr. Sarver, of course.

 

[nashman]

Stupid article, Rondo said it himself the big three make me look good! Shoot Eddie House looks like a good PG on that team all you have to do is bring the ball down the court and throw it to one of your 3 All Stars. Geesh people act like he is the next coming of Nash, his numbers are just ok. One could argue with those three he should be averaging a hell of alot more assists! Rondo is an ok point gaurd I don't care if he has a title or not he is not the next great PG like they are trying to make it sound.

 

[WuRaider]

The Boston Celtics have no reason to laugh. In recent history they sent the Suns Joe Johnson for essentially Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. I bet they selectively forget that. Still there is no defending the Suns about not keeping Rondo.

I remember D'Antoni saying that the reason why we didn't keep Rondo was because "he can't shoot". Nevermind his ability to play defense, in D'Antoni's world you're useless without offense.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Stupid article, Rondo said it himself the big three make me look good! Shoot Eddie House looks like a good PG on that team all you have to do is bring the ball down the court and throw it to one of your 3 All Stars. Geesh people act like he is the next coming of Nash, his numbers are just ok. One could argue with those three he should be averaging a hell of alot more assists! Rondo is an ok point gaurd I don't care if he has a title or not he is not the next great PG like they are trying to make it sound.

I would agree with that...but he AT LEAST would have been an excellent backup.

 

[da_suns_fan]

I remember D'Antoni saying that the reason why we didn't keep Rondo was because "he can't shoot". Nevermind his ability to play defense, in D'Antoni's world your're useless without offense.

I also remember they didn't want to give out a contract before they made their offer for Tim Thomas, whom they didn't get anyway.

Funny....Rondo and Eddie House make 3.1 million COMBINED.

Marcus Banks makes 4.1.

 

[nashman]

You act as though we drafted Rondo then decided to trade him, chances are if we had even planned to keep our pick he wouldn't have even been selected. We picked him in a prearranged deal for shedding salary period, if not we would have selected someone that could shoot. Their was NO way we were bringing him in to backup Nash at the time, we were a contender no pick was going to get the PT.

 

[Chaplin]

Rondo would be a backup if Cassell was only a year or two younger.

They did get a good deal for him, but being labeled as the starting PG on a championship team adds its own little bit of overrating just by virtue of the label.

 

[Irish]

Rondo is still not much of a shooter. He's a better PG from a playmaking standpoint than his reputation from Kentucky, but he was clearly not a D'Antoni type PG.

I think some of the other guys like Lowry would have been a better choice for the Suns, but the desire to move the Brian Grant contract did play a role.

 

[TJ]

Rondo would make a great back up PG on any team, especially the Suns. When you are surrounded by 3 perennial all stars who are constantly pulling defenders off of you, anyone can really excel in that offense. Even (God forbid) Smush Parker!

 

[nowagimp]

Stupid article, Rondo said it himself the big three make me look good! Shoot Eddie House looks like a good PG on that team all you have to do is bring the ball down the court and throw it to one of your 3 All Stars. Geesh people act like he is the next coming of Nash, his numbers are just ok. One could argue with those three he should be averaging a hell of alot more assists! Rondo is an ok point gaurd I don't care if he has a title or not he is not the next great PG like they are trying to make it sound.

Yeah Im LOL at these donkeys. Doc pulled rondo to insert house for spacing(as a shooter) at the end of games and pierce ran the offense mostly in the crunch. The lakers doubled off rondo so often that Rivers put cassel and house in to stop the blood flow. Rondo played very well, but some of Docs best moves involved him pulling rondo and perkins and inserting house and posey to end games. The suns selling picks though is never a good deal, its mortgaging the future.

 

[nowagimp]

Even (God forbid) Smush Parker!

NO NO NO and NO!

 

[Irish]

Even (God forbid) Smush Parker!

Is there a word for "low basketball IQ"? We could put his picture next to it in the dictionary. Smush is like Banks in that his stats always look better than his on court performance.

 

[elindholm]

The Suns deserve to be laughed at. Their mismanagement over the last few years has been epic.

 

[Irish]

The Suns deserve to be laughed at. Their mismanagement over the last few years has been epic.

Better than our crying hyserically.

 

[Maligzar]

If Rondo played here he would have been in the D league developing his shot.

The guy had no place in our system.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Rondo would not be in the same position on the Suns. He would be playing a back up role to Nash and probably would not be thought of much.

He ended up in a position that allowed him to excel.

The stars aligned for Rajon and the Celtics--good for them

 

[CardsFan88]

They shouldn't be laughing, as the Suns imo had more to do with their title than the t-wolves.

KG could have been here, but lucked out that marion said no to their sorry team.

No KG, no ray allen.

No ray allen, guess who gets traded lol.

Rajon Rondo, yep. We could have made room for him, especially with the extra roster spot.

Maybe he wouldn't have been good for us THAT year, but neither were our other 11th-12th-13th players. I think that year, for most of the year, or for as long as rules allowed we had 12 players and not 13.

3 backup pg's we could of had, which we don't have. All from low picks, and cheap.

But you know what, I'm glad this happened. I really am. Our problems have been so bad in selling off talent, and $arver keeps towing his line, this is just another thing to add to the list.

Maybe it's THE thing that is the shocker, that makes $arver think, hmmm, I can't be so backwards thinking and have a good team. (i.e. TIGHTWAD)

Selling draft picks is the worst thing imo you could do. I'd rather use those resources to trade for the equivalent of Xavier McDaniel...at least it's something. That's how bad it is every time you trade a draft pick for cash. Worse than a x-man trade.

Each time, going into the drafts, people were saying, we'd be lucky to find any of those 3 pg's available to us, and if any of them were, we should take them in a heartbeat. One time I believe we even had a 2nd shot at drafting one of them with a later 1st round pick but either sold/traded that one as well.

Good teams have young players on their teams, except the really, really aging ones that go on and suck for a decade. There are ways to win without gutting your younger talent. At one time we had a chance for a dynasty equal to the bulls, spurs, etc. Now we don't. D'antoni didn't like to play them, fine, but year 2, 3, 4 etc is just around the corner. I don't buy the d'antoni wouldn't play them argument, as we never are even sure if he would. Every rookie we kept, I know, only a few, S'anAntoni played. Add the extra roster spot, and we have absolutely no excuse to gut the roster of young talent to win now. Especially when a couple of years ago we were the youngest team in the league, and the most talented, for a couple years in a row.

So yeah, I'm glad this happened, because $arver has a huge amount of egg on his face. One of his $avings now help lead a team (at a position we need), to the championship. (where he could also of played with some great players)...how many more will follow? don't know, but I have to think he can't be blind enough to NOT think about this the next time he wants to sell the pick for 3 million.

At this point I just want him to get all the cheap/neuvo(sp) thinking about how he is going to run the Suns like a failing corporation out of his system, let it sink in what he lost, and for how little of pittance he paid to betray the fans of his team. Hopefully the ignorance era is over.

If I could I'd be pouring the morton's into the wound and try to splash some in his eyes for good measure.

So I'll take this article as a blessing, an article hopefully that is recovered by a company in charge of sending info over to the brass about everything said about said company. (like say IBM having a company search for all related media articles about IBM...but the Suns). An article that hopefully finds it's way into $arver's hands. We could only be so lucky???????

 

[ReddBird]

Hindsight, baby.

It's easy to look back and know the answers. Like nashman said, there's no reason to think that the Suns liked or wanted Rondo. At that time, they weren't looking to add to the team via the draft.

As I remember, we somehow had a pretty good team even after the draft was done. Nobody was weeping over the loss of Rajon Rondo that year.

 

[Dr. Jones]

The Boston Celtics have no reason to laugh. In recent history they sent the Suns Joe Johnson for essentially Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. I bet they selectively forget that. Still there is no defending the Suns about not keeping Rondo.

I give two craps about this, They won.... we lost.

It is a trend I want to see end.

I wish we were as lucky as Boston was.

Shawn Marion cost us KG..... Shawn Marion should never enter the Ring of Honor because of it.

 

[Dr. Jones]

The Suns deserve to be laughed at. Their mismanagement over the last few years has been epic.

And Mike Dantoni did far more damage than good IMO.

 

[dodie53]

no to smush

 

[mojorizen7]

Rondo>Banks
Rondo>Barbosa
Why? Defense wins championships.