Rajon Rondo did not have the free agency run he was hoping for. A year ago the point guard was predicted to nab a big contract with every team pining for him. Instead, the Boston Celtics traded him to the Dallas Mavericks where coaching issues caused him to get benched in the playoffs and then Rondo sat around on the open market before getting picked up by the Sacramento Kings. Looking to repair his image, Rondo's Kings tenure is not going as planned.
Rondo has been known to have issues with coaches. He and Doc Rivers struggled together in Boston while his issues with Rick Carlisle were put on display with on-court outbursts. Needing a bounce back season, Rondo is reportedly having the same type of problems with head coach George Karl. When asked by Cowbell Kingdom about his relationship with Karl following a preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo responded, "It's not been going too well. We got into a couple arguments the last couple of days. Hopefully, we continue to talk, and it will get better."
That is not exactly what Kings fans want to be hearing from their point guard who is expected to be the center piece of the offense. The Kings are aiming for the Rondo-DeMarcus Cousins connection to be on point this season and instead, the point guard is not even guaranteed to start. Darren Collison has been exceeding expectations in the preseason as he has been coming off the bench. According to the Sacramento Bee, Collison could be considered for the starting job should Rondo and Karl have another falling out.
Karl has been the subject of some controversy for the Kings this offseason. The head coach started his tenure with the team with trade talk regarding Cousins who has been deemed a franchise player. After mending those issues, Cousins is preparing for his biggest role with the team yet. The center told the media that he is working on his perimeter shooting which will be used this year.
"I don't really consider myself a center," Cousins said, via the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones. "I'm just a basketball player. There's so much I can do on the floor. People get stuck on the word 'center,' 'big man' and (are) kind of ignorant to the situation. I can't really worry about that. I just go out there and do my job. I do have those skills but it's still an adjustment."
The Kings are working on spacing with Cousins. Rudy Gay is expected to start at small forward while Willie Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos battle to earn the other starting spot on the floor with the center. Getting Cousins in as a perimeter shooter could improve Karl's offensive plans. The biggest question remains the race with Rondo and Collison.