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NBA: 7 players with the most to lose in 2014-15

By Bryce Olin

Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Celtics 114-98. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Celtics 114-98. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

Between 2010-2013 (when he tore his ACL), Rondo was one of the best point guards in the NBA. Over that span, Rondo averaged 11.3 assists per game. He was so much fun to watch.

Granted, he was playing with three Hall-of-Famers, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen for most of that time, but still, Rondo was awesome. Then, he tore his ACL, the Garnett and Pierce were traded, and the Celtics were in full rebuilding mode.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% FT% TRB AST STL PTS
2010-11 ★ 68 37.2 4.7 9.9 .475 .568 4.4 11.2 2.3 10.6
2011-12 ★ 53 36.9 4.8 10.8 .448 .597 4.8 11.7 1.8 11.9
2012-13 ★ 38 37.4 5.9 12.2 .484 .645 5.6 11.1 1.8 13.7
2013-14 30 33.3 4.7 11.7 .403 .627 5.5 9.8 1.3 11.7
Career 505 33.0 4.6 9.7 .475 .621 4.6 8.4 1.9 11.1

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2014.

Rondo finally returned and played in 30 games last season. In those 30 games, Rondo was a shell of his former self. He averaged 11.7 PPG on 40 percent shooting and his assists dipped to 9.8 per game. Those are not max contract numbers.

Rondo was coming off a serious knee injury, so obviously he wasn’t going to be himself right way. It takes time to get back in the groove. And, quite frankly, the Celtics were awful last season. Who knows what Rondo’s effort level was game after game? Rondo’s a guy who has only known winning in the NBA; I have to believe that was at least part of his struggles last season.

This season, Rondo has a lot to prove, and it starts with his health.

If Rondo just shows up next season, he’s probably going to get a max offer from someone based on his past performance and All-NBA potential. Oh, and the Knicks have cap space and are dying to spend it all in one place.

For that to happen, Rondo has to stay healthy. If he suffers another knee injury, Rondo can kiss that max offer goodbye and start looking for deals in the four-year, $48 million range, but I doubt a team would even commit to a long-term deal with Rondo.

Rondo’s injury history is basically the only thing that could cause teams to be wary of him in free agency or in a potential trade with the Celtics. If Rondo performs like he did in those 30 games last season and shoots 40 percent from the field, teams might hesitate to give Rondo the max contract he deserves. As we saw with Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe, when teams hesitate in free agency, usually it doesn’t end well for the free agents.

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