Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Last December, the Dallas Mavericks were given an excellent opportunity to further improve their already strong team by acquiring All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics. Playing with championship or bust expectations in the cut-throat Western Conference, Dallas saw this move as a chance to become even better. Not only was Rondo an All-Star, but Rondo was also an NBA champion with the Celtics in 2008 and one of the best passers in the league. On the surface, bringing in Rondo seemed like a logical upgrade at the point guard position.
However, there were many concerns and worries in Dallas about trading for Rondo. Rondo was a notorious headache for coaches and teammates, as well as a guy who constantly lacked motivation in games with little meaning or importance. In addition, Rondo had been bitten by the injury bug and was not fully healthy since the 2012 season. Not to mention, Rondo was neither an amazing offensive player nor a lock-down defender due to his frequent episodes of no effort and poor attitude.
Dallas had an important question to answer before making a final decision: Is it worth sacrificing several good role players who fit the Mavericks’ system for a controversial player who could bring this team a championship? The Mavericks answered yes to that question.
Looking back several months later and seeing what became of that trade, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Dallas admitted it regretted doing the deal. Simply put, Rajon Rondo destroyed the Mavericks both on the court and in the locker room.
The Mavericks were already an offensive juggernaut and believed that adding Rondo would only help. However, adding Rondo actually hurt Dallas’ offensive flow and spacing across the floor. Rondo just did not fit in the Mavericks’ impressive offensive system, while the players Dallas traded for Rondo fit perfectly into the offense. As a result, Dallas was a far less efficient offensive team for the rest of the season and failed to improve.
The most notable and negative impact that Rondo had on the Mavericks was in the locker room. In other words, Rondo ruined Dallas’ team chemistry. It’s unbelievable for one player to completely destroy a team’s chemistry, especially when it is a team like the Mavericks. They are known for being one of the strongest locker rooms and franchises in the NBA. Somehow, Rondo tore that up into pieces.
For anyone who watched the Mavericks’ first-round matchup of the 2015 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets, you know what I am talking about. Had the Mavericks been on the same page and clicking together well, that series goes the distance and maybe Dallas even wins it. However, the Mavericks were completely dominated and lost in five games. Fittingly, Rondo was checked out for the entire series.
Of course, Rondo’s strained relationship with head coach Rick Carlisle drew much of the media’s attention. From day one, the two parties just failed to get along and see eye-to-eye. What might be most ironic about this is that both Carlisle and Rondo share something very special in common: Both guys have won a championship with the Celtics.
While Rondo won his with Boston in 2008, Carlisle was a young bench player on the 1986 Celtics team that is considered by many to be the greatest basketball team of all time. Even two men who are disciples of the Red Auerbach system in Beantown could not find a way to work together. If Red were still alive, he would be disgusted.
To no one’s surprise, the Mavericks and Rondo announced (after the series loss against Houston) that the two mutually agreed to part ways. Dallas has many other big decisions to make this summer. Players like center Tyson Chandler and guard Monta Ellis will be free agents.
Rondo is also a free agent this summer and is sure to get offers from many teams in desperate need of a solid point guard, as it is arguably the most important position in today’s NBA. But if it was not made clear this season, here it is: Rajon Rondo is indeed a headcase. Rondo has incredible talent, but a terrible attitude. If Rondo can ruin the championship-driven Dallas Mavericks both on and off the court, he can ruin almost any franchise.
Patrick Ralph is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Pat_Ralph, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
