The 2014-15 season didn't go so well for Rajon Rondo. Once widely considered one of the top point guards in the NBA, Rondo had a very down year and is looking to bounce back in the 2015-16 season. Rondo was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of last season and clashed with Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle throughout virtually his entire tenure with the team. Rondo is now a Sacramento King and he will reportedly have the freedom he wants this upcoming season, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Rondo's biggest problem with Carlisle and the Mavericks was that he likes to call his own plays and run the offense the way he wants while Carlisle likes to call the plays from the sidelines. Both guys are extremely stubborn and headstrong so a clash there was inevitable and the experiment ended up not going well for a very talented Mavericks team. In 46 games in Dallas Rondo averaged 9.3 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, all down from his career numbers.
This offseason the 29 year old point guard from Kentucky signed a one year deal worth $9.5 million to join the Sacramento Kings. A couple of years ago Rondo likely would have been a max player but after last season he had to sign a make good deal to show he is still that elite point guard.
George Karl is the head coach of the Kings and said his pitch to Rondo included how he likes to let his players have freedom.
"I just sold him on how I like to let my guys have freedom. I talked to him once before he signed and it's going to be fun coaching him. I think he wants to lead our team but he also wants to be part of the decision-making, and that can be somewhat combustible but it can also work at a high level because I think we're all trying to make the team the best," said Karl.
Rondo has led the NBA in assists per game twice in his career and averages 8.3 assists per game for his career. Although his free throw shooting has gotten worse in recent years (40 percent last season) he is still in his prime and can have a comeback season with the Kings. With DeMarcus Cousins as the focal point in Sacramento and Rudy Gay on the wing Rondo has plenty of guys to pass to in order to get his assists back up.
This Kings team has a lot of personalities on it so there is a possibility that this doesn't work out and the team is a disaster. But if Karl does give Rondo the freedom he is looking for and Rondo is dishing the ball around making everyone happy this team could also be a playoff contender in the Western Conference, there is that much talent.
