The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a close to impossible situation to climb out of. They’re hanging off a cliff, with sharp pointy rocks underneath them stamped with Houston Rockets logos and the only way they can be helped up is at the hands of one disgruntled point guard who seemingly wants to rid himself of the situation he’s currently in. The Mavericks situation is one they need to somehow climb out of on their own.
It was never more evident than last night when the Mavericks and Rockets faced off in the second game of their first round Western Conference playoff series.
The Mavs are losing their grip on the cliff after they lost game 2 to Houston. In part, due to the benching of Rajon Rondo in the fourth quarter. It appears that Rondo is at his breaking point with the Mavs and the almighty ‘playoff Rondo’ appears to be more of a detriment than a force for Dallas.
Following from Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski.
When Rondo realized his run with the Celtics was over this year, he planned to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. He expected a maximum contract. Once Dallas made the trade, he was open to re-signing with the Mavericks – only there are no max contract offers for Rondo on the market. Not in Dallas, nor Los Angeles. He’s played his way out of that payday – not just this year, but since that terrible ACL injury two years ago.
Carlisle banished him to the bench, choosing Raymond Felton over Rondo in the fourth quarter. Everything’s pushing Rondo closer to his inevitable free-agent fleeing to the Lakers this summer. As long as the coach is back, Rondo’s gone, sources told Yahoo Sports. The parting could be mutual.
When Rondo and Carlisle had it out on the bench and again in the locker room in February, teammates heard Rondo ask him: “Why the [bleep] did you bring me here?”
The obvious decision here for the Mavs would be to let Rondo walk. As much as it would suck to have happen, it’s going to have to be a tough pill for Mavs owner Mark Cuban, coach Rick Carlisle, Donnie Nelson and the rest of the Mavs front office to swallow.
He’s unhappy and consistently bumps heads with Carlisle. There’s no way you let a coach like Carlisle leave to keep a point guard who just doesn’t produce like he once did. Rajon is a point guard from a different generation – a different planet – and it’s time for him to go as he pleases.
Giving up assets like the Mavs did when they made the trade for Rondo isn’t an ideal situation to just let him walk only a few months later with nothing to show from it. Sometimes things don’t always work out and now it’s time to rebuild. Without Rajon.
Rondo to the Lakers seems to be a done deal and a good fit but at what cost for the Lakers? He’s not not deserving of the max from the Lakers or any team, unless they don’t plan on bringing in other big names this summer. Then, by all means, give Rondo all the money you have because next offseason, when the cap goes up, his deal won’t look as bad.
