NBA Rumors: Rajon Rondo Signing With New York Knicks, Joining Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis
NBA rumors have swirled around Rajon Rondo since he signed a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings last summer. Everyone knew that the former Boston Celtics guard had signed a “make good” deal to prove to the National Basketball Association that he is still a great player and deserves to be paid big money. According to the New York Post, Rondo is a lot more receptive to signing with the New York Knicks since the team fired Derek Fisher as head coach.
Earlier in the season, Rajon Rondo was asked about the possibility of signing with the New York Knicks when he hit free agency this summer. The 30-year-old point guard dismissed the notion by stating that he would not be a very good fit with the Triangle Offense. Rondo likes to freelance on offense and find open shots for himself and his teammates. That’s not what the Triangle Offense needs.
When informed of what Rajon Rondo said about the Triangle Offense, Derek Fisher decided to take a jab at the former Kentucky Wildcats star. Fisher stated that Rondo should not be asked about the Triangle Offense because he never had any success playing against it. The move was a very peculiar one because Fisher usually knows what to say to the media. Resorting to verbal jabs against a potential free agent signing did sit well with the New York Knicks.
When asked about Rajon Rondo being a fit for the Triangle Offense, Phil Jackson stated that a lot of NBA players are smart enough to learn his system. Jackson praised Rondo for being a very smart player. Showing that he is still one of the best chess players in the National Basketball Association, Jackson also made sure to downplay the possibility of signing Rondo by stating that the New York Knicks don’t necessarily need a great point guard.
Carmelo Anthony isn’t just complimentary of Rajon Rondo. The New York Knicks starting small forward is actually said to be recruiting Rondo with his words. Anthony has already publicly stated that he wants to be active when the Knicks recruit free agents. The belief is that Anthony will be going hard after Rondo this summer. Rondo’s playmaking skills can alleviate the offensive burden for Anthony.
One big reason why the New York Knicks are going to be pursuing Rajon Rondo this summer is the fact that he might make Kristaps Porzingis a much better NBA player. Rondo can learn where the best positions on the floor are for Porzingis. The combination would be able to produce plenty of highlights where the Latvian rookie is throwing down wide open slam dunks because his point guard was able to draw in opposing defenses.
Rajon Rondo has been telling people that his next NBA contract should be his final one because he wants to find a permanent home. Rondo took quite the calculated risk last summer by signing a one-year deal. He took a gamble on himself, and it paid off. Rondo definitely does not want to be in this position again. The New York Knicks can acquire the best passing guard in the National Basketball Association if they opened up the checkbook.
For a while, it looked like the New York Knicks had no chance of acquiring Rajon Rondo. That changed whenever Derek Fisher was shown the door. If Kristaps can show some improvement over the summer, then the trio of Rondo, Carmelo Anthony, and Porzingis can help the Knicks finally get back to the NBA Playoffs. Phil Jackson would be universally hailed for being able to pull off that accomplishment.
[Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]
