Who could replace Rick Carlisle so the Mavs can keep Rajon Rondo?
Rajon Rondo is an enigmatic figure and reportedly wants Rick Carlisle out of Dallas. Are there any coaches available that can handle his toxic personality?
Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo has reportedly given Mark Cuban an ultimatum; it is either him or head coach Rick Carlisle next season.
The controversial point guard is in the media’s spotlight, regarding both the recent reports and his awful performance last night, where he failed to show up for a playoff game with the Houston Rockets. After picking up four fouls in just 10 minutes of action, committing senseless mistakes like an uncontested 8-second violation and showing little to no effort or interest in the game, Carlisle had seen enough.
Rondo picked up a technical foul just seconds into the second half, and the Mavs coach was so infuriated that he relegated his starting point guard to the bench for all but 34 seconds of the second half.
Following the benching, reports of an imminent divorce between Rondo and Carlisle almost instantaneously emerged.
While it would be extremely foolish to choose Rondo over Carlisle, and I have little reason to believe Cuban will give in to the demands of his struggling point guard, the situation does raise an interested question; what coach could the Mavericks possibly bring in that could handle the former All-Star and his enigmatic personality?
If you were paying attention to Boston after 2012, what is happening w/ Rondo in Dallas isn't a surprise. He just hasn't been good.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 22, 2015
Rondo is a head-case for any NBA head coach. His basketball IQ is through the roof, and he knows it. This has led to constant clashes, conflict and controversy between Rondo and his coaches, something that would have to be taken into serious consideration.
For this reason, hiring a former NBA point guard with a proven track record is the best way that the team could handle Rondo’s antics. This is why he experienced his greatest success of his 8-year career with the Boston Celtics, playing under longtime NBA floor general Doc Rivers.
This makes UConn‘s Kevin Ollie an interesting (and hypothetical) option to replace Carlisle and appease Rondo. While Ollie has never coached at the NBA-level, he was able to lead a No. 7 seed UConn team to the 2014 national championship in just his second season as a head coach. Ollie also has 13 years of experience as an NBA point guard to his credit, and as a result is someone that Rondo could possibly coincide with.
The problem with Ollie is, at 42-years old, I am not sure that he possesses the authoritative presence necessary to command a locker room that Rondo is a part of.
Another interesting option is current ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy. While Van Gundy’s days as a point guard are limited to his college career, his extensive coaching experience in the NBA could be appealing to Rondo. He also has experience dealing with star players, ranging from Patrick Ewing with the New York Knicks to Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming with the Houston Rockets, which could help him in deterring Rondo from tearing apart the Mavericks’ locker room.
Is Rondo a bigger star than those three? Not at all, but he is way more of a coach’s nightmare.
It remains uncertain who Rajon Rondo’s next head coach, will likely remain that way for a while. One thing is certain, however, whoever is tasked with the job will have plenty of work cut out for them.