Report: Sacramento Kings are ‘darkhorse candidate’ for Rajon Rondo
The Sacramento Kings are in the running as a possible landing spot for Rajon Rondo, who killed his own chances at returning to Dallas by giving up on the team.
Rajon Rondo seemingly sabotaged any chance of playing for a quality NBA team in 2015-16 when he decided to sabotage the Dallas Mavericks and his relationship with head coach Rick Carlisle.
That might not be stopping Sacramento from pursuing.
From The Boston Globe:
"A darkhorse location for Rajon Rondo in free agency is Sacramento, where the Kings are entering a pivotal year in their franchise and could use a bona fide point guard. Darren Collison, coming off hip surgery, is the team’s scheduled starter for next season. Rondo, who didn’t appear interested in going to the Kings a few years ago, could use the club as a springboard to perhaps a larger contract if he signs a one-year deal. Rondo is also close friends with Kings forward Rudy Gay."
That’s good. Rondo would probably get along swimmingly with Kings star DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins.
Oh. Crap.
What is George Karl going to do next year? With Rondo alienating everyone in his path and Boogie bouncing between dominating in the post and acting like a petulant child who wants to take his ball back, the Kings have the potential to become a train wreck. Owner Vivek Ranadive may decide that Rondo is his next player of desire, and force the Kings to get him at any cost.
With that being said, Rondo fits well with what the Kings may need to make the next step in the West. At his best, Rondo maximizes the effectiveness of the players around him; if he can do the same for established players like Cousins and Rudy Gay as well as the young guys like Ben McLemore, then maybe the Kings have a working lineup.
Plus, Darren Collison goes back to the bench, where he once was and shall remain forever. It feels bad for Collison, but it also just feels so much more comfortable.
There won’t be a load of competition to sign him, so if the Kings sign Rondo to a “prove it” deal that doesn’t tie them up for the future, then the risk would be mitigated.
In theory, Rondo could land with other teams in need of a point guard, someone like the Los Angeles Lakers or Indiana Pacers. The Houston Rockets wouldn’t take a point guard who can’t shoot threes, so I doubt Rockets GM Daryl Morey looks his way.
Of course, this is all based on the assumption that Rondo can return to his form from three seasons ago. The Kings may be banking on that.
[H/T: Boston Globe]