The dust is starting to settle after the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics completed a trade for Rajon Rondo. It was a move everyone saw coming considering the point guard was set to become a free agent in the summer and likely had no interest in being a part of a rebuilding effort with the Celtics. After Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers all left, it was only a matter of time before Rondo departed too. The Mavericks might have a stacked team this season, but the small issue is that Rondo is still set to be a free agent in the summer.
The Mavericks took a risk similar to what the Cleveland Cavaliers did with Kevin Love. The Mavericks gave up Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and a first and second round draft pick for Rondo. The move gives the Mavericks a championship-worthy lineup with Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons. However, that lineup might only last the season. Rondo is set to be a free agent come the summer and could easily up and leave similar to what Love could do with Cleveland.
When Love signed with Cleveland it was reported that the forward told the front office he would re-sign with them in free agency. Per NBA rules, Love cannot sign a contract until he officially hits the market so the Cavaliers have to hope he stays true to his word. According to Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, Rondo will re-sign with the Mavericks this summer. Prior to the trade being finalized, Helin reported that the point guard would only re-sign with either the Mavericks or the Houston Rockets if traded to either team.
Several teams have their eyes on Rondo and will likely attempt to at least make an effort to sign him before the Mavericks do. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Rockets were all in trade talks on Thursday for the point guard and could make a go at him in free agency. Both the Lakers and Knicks will have the cap space to do so. For now, Dallas will enjoy the benefits of Rondo. The Mavericks have one of the best offenses in the league that is only getting better. Chandler Parsons addressed the media following the deal and sounded very excited.
"To be able to get a guy like Rondo, it's unbelievable," Parsons said, via ESPNDallas.com. "It's not every day that you can get a point guard of his status, and the way he can pass the ball, he's a difference-maker. To be able to have that, with the combination of what we already have with our system and the players put around him, it's special. It's definitely exciting. Like I said, I hope it goes through because he's a heck of a talent, one of [the] better point guards in the NBA."