Signing Rondo Would Be Huge Mistake For Lakers
By Hannah Kulik
It is time to say it. After Jordan Clarkson’s bounce-back game against Chris Paul and the Clippers last night, the debate over next year’s starting point guard should be over. Clarkson has been sensational the past month. Since he became a starter in January, he has exceeded the expectations of even his strongest supporters. Most astonishing is the fact that he is getting better, more comfortable, and more confident with every game. One would be hard pressed to identify an NBA rookie who in recent years has come so far so fast.
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A few months ago many wondered aloud (myself included) whether Clarkson could ever develop the skillset necessary to play point guard in the NBA. There were serious questions about his ball-handling, shooting, playmaking, and turnovers. Not only has he addressed these questions, it took him a mere two months to erase any doubts. He is mentally and physically tough, the kind of player who wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line. In the past few weeks he has typically scored more than 20 points per contest while shooting over 50% from the floor, 40% from three point territory, and 80% from the free throw line. He is making astonishing passes and is a strong rebounder. He is doing all this while averaging less than two turnovers a game. The Lakers have not had a rookie who played this well in his first season since Magic Johnson. Clarkson is not Johnson, but he does show very good promise.
For all these reasons, the debate is over and Clarkson should be the starting point guard next season. But will he?
There has been speculation for several years that the Lakers have been interested in acquiring Rajon Rondo. The speculation increased earlier this season when Kobe Bryant had a very visible breakfast with Rondo while the team was in Boston to play the Celtics. Bryant is said to like Rondo’s toughness, and many assumed he was recruiting Rondo at the time. Rondo was later traded to the Mavericks, but from afar it does not look like the relationship is going well, leading to rumors that Rondo may opt to move on when the season is over even though Dallas could potentially pay him the most money.
The Lakers need scorers, so Goran Dragic would fit with the team because of his ability to score in a variety of ways. However, it was reported recently that the Lakers prefer Rondo over Dragic. Then, recently, it was reported by usually reputable media sources that Rondo is a lock to sign with the Lakers in the offseason. If this is the case, here is my advice to the team: DON’T DO IT! If it doesn’t work for Rondo in Dallas, a solid playoff-bound team where he is surrounded by other talented players, why would anyone think he will make a difference on the talent-starved Lakers?
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Rondo was never a good shooter but historically found a way to score especially in clutch situations. He was one of the top playmakers in the league, always among the leaders in assists. He was a fierce defender who brought a mentally tough attitude to the court every night. He was acknowledged to be one of the better point guards in the league.
Those days are over. Rondo will be 30 next season and has suffered a number of injuries in recent years. His shooting has gotten even worse. In contrast to Clarkson, who has calmly sunk key free throws at the end to win games recently, Rondo is a terrible free throw shooter which makes it hard to keep him in close games at the end – he cannot be aggressive for fear he will be fouled at a key moment and have to shoot free throws.
In short, Rondo is not the player he once was. He is on the downside of his career and there is no reason to believe he will have a renaissance if he joins the Lakers. The Lakers need to look beyond this next season – projected to be Bryant’s last — and it is Clarkson, not Rondo, who provides the most long-term upside potential.
If the Lakers sign Rondo, it will have to be a three or four year deal at $14 million per year (or more). He is no longer worth that much money, but some team will likely pay it. If that team is the Lakers, it will be with the expectation that Rondo will be the starting point guard for the next few years. Starting point guards normally play 35 minutes night, or more.
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Where does that leave Clarkson? After what he has accomplished this season, and with all the promise he shows, is he going to sit on the bench? Will they move Clarkson to shooting guard? If so, with Bryant on the team, he will not play much next season unless Bryant is injured. Further, Clarkson appears to be one of those players who excels with the ball in his hands. In short, if the Lakers sign Rondo, it will have a huge impact on Clarkson’s development, not to mention his psyche.
Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak have made a large number of mistakes the past few years. They will get another chance – perhaps their last — to redeem themselves this summer, when the decision they make about Clarkson and Rondo may impact the team for years to come. No doubt they are embarrassed and want to turn the team around as fast as possible, and that usually means signing veteran free agents like Rondo. That has been the plan for the past three years, and it is the conservative thing to do. But great leaders are able to recognize an unexpected opportunity when it presents itself, even if it means altering their long-standing plan. This season young players like Clarkson, Ed Davis, Tarek Black, and Jabari Brown have been the only silver lining. They have shown they can be good players on a bad team. That question is, can they be good players on a good team? The Lakers would be wise to find out rather than rushing to overpay veterans no longer in their prime. Rondo is not the answer at this stage of his career.
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