It's crazy to think that one of the best passers in the NBA might be playing for his fourth team in three seasons in 2016-17.
Rajon Rondo, who led the league in assists last year, is on the free agent market after finishing his one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings. Previously, he played for the Boston Celtics and made a short stint with the Dallas Mavericks at the end of the 2014-15 season.
His time in Dallas was less than successful; he constantly clashed with head coach Rick Carlisle, leading to him being benched for most of their first round series. Some critics questioned if he had lost some of the magic he had alongside the Big Three with the Celtics.
Nobody was interested in taking a risk on Rondo long-term, but the Kings gave him a contract for a single season. He made the most of it, averaging 11.9 points while tying his career-high with 11.7 assists per game, proving that he could be successful regardless of the talent level of his teammates.
So, where might Rajon end up? According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated, Rondo is “open to staying” in Sacramento, but he has also expressed interest in signing with either the New York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets.
Spears goes on to note that the Derrick Rose trade probably takes the Knicks off the board as an option for Rondo, who will surely want to start wherever he ends up. The Nets would be an interesting landing spot; they were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, but with the addition of Rondo, their rag-tag group would at least have a quarterback manning the ship.
Although Rondo developed a fond relationship with big man DeMarcus Cousins, he grew tired of the constant drama in Sacramento.
“Too much tension. I've never witnessed or experienced a thing like that in my 10-year career,” he said.
However, with new head coach Dave Joerger, maybe Rondo will give it another go with the Kings and try to get the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
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