Rajon Rondo Finds Unlikely Home With Sacramento Kings

Rajon Rondo has found an unlikely home in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings after a highly disappointing stint with the Dallas Mavericks, according to the Sacramento Bee.

For years, Rajon Rondo had a home with the Boston Celtics, the team that traded for him during the 2006 NBA Draft. That came to an end in 2014 when a youth movement was born.

The Boston Celtics traded Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jameer Nelson, Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright and two draft picks in 2015 and 2016. At the time, the Dallas Mavericks were hoping that Rajon Rondo would be the final piece to an NBA Championship winning team in the final remaining years of Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban was hoping that a lineup of Rajon Rondo, Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler could compete in the NBA. On paper, that sounded great, so a lot of people started to believe in the Dallas Mavericks. However, the game of basketball is not played on paper. Rajon Rondo was a horrible fit.

Considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the NBA, head coach Rick Carlisle wanted the Dallas Mavericks to move the ball around, space out the floor and find open shooters.

Rajon Rondo, on the other hand, likes to pound the ball until he can open up something to get himself to the basket or to find a great shot for one of his teammates. That’s his style. Putting the freelancing Rajon Rondo into the Dallas Mavericks system was the equivalent of forcing a square peg into a round hole. Rondo and Rick Carlisle ended up butting heads.

The experiment only lasted one year, as both Rajon Rondo and the Dallas Mavericks rushed to get away from one another. Rondo left via free agency without a contract extension offer. Since Rick Carlisle is so respected around the NBA, Rajon Rondo found himself having trouble finding free agent offers, even though he was one of the more talented players available. Without a ton of options, Rajon Rondo opted to take a risk by signing a one year deal with the Sacramento Kings. He preferred a longer contract, but NBA teams did not trust him. Many believed that Rajon Rondo was only a rental for the Sacramento Kings. The belief was that he would play well enough so that another NBA team will want him next summer.

Things started off pretty bad for Rajon Rondo, as he immediately butted heads with Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl, which sparked trade and firing rumors by the media.

Relationships have been smoothed over, and Rajon Rondo has found a team that is great for him. His averages of 12.4 points, 11.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds are above career averages. Rajon Rondo has also found a role with the Sacramento Kings. Not only is he the floor leader that they needed on the court, he’s also the leader DeMarcus Cousins needed personally.

DeMarcus Cousins has found himself a mentor in Rajon Rondo, as the two of them both know what it feels like to be misunderstood by fans and the media. That created their bond. The two former Kentucky Wildcats stars have adjacent lockers, which makes it easier for DeMarcus Cousins to seek professional and personal advice from the elder Rajon Rondo.

Since the Sacramento Kings are desperately trying not to trade DeMarcus Cousins, the arrival of Rajon Rondo has been considered a blessing. A contract extension is being discussed.

Who would have ever thought that Rajon Rondo would be the savior for the Sacramento Kings?