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Nets Rumors: Rajon Rondo Interested In Signing With Team

By Kenneth Teape

Mar 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brooklyn Nets Rumors: Could Rajon Rondo fill the need at point guard for the Brooklyn Nets?

Brooklyn Nets rumors have been flying in recent days, as they were very active leading up to and during the 2016 NBA Draft. The Nets ended up making two selections in the draft, acquiring the 20th overall pick from the Indiana Pacers in a deal for Thaddeus Young, and the 42nd overall pick from the Utah Jazz.

The Nets added some talent to their backcourt with those picks, selecting Caris LeVert of Michigan 20th and hometown product, Brooklyn’s own Isaiah Whitehead out of Seton Hall. The Nets backcourt is currently a mess, so it makes sense that they would target some guards in the draft.

But, that should not end their pursuit of point guards, as both LeVert and Whitehead are considered shooting guards despite leading their respective teams in assists this past season. Even if the Nets project them to be point guards down the line, they will still need some help in the upcoming season.

Could that help come in the form of unrestricted free agent Rajon Rondo? According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN, Rondo is open to re-signing with the Sacramento Kings, but is interested in signing in New York with either the Nets or the New York Knicks.

As Spears notes, the Knicks made a big trade with the Chicago Bulls earlier in the week for Derrick Rose, so you can cross them off the list. But, the Nets are still in the market for a point guard, so a match could be made.

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But, is this the type of move that the new-look Nets would want to make? Rondo has a history of being very difficult to coach, as he clashed with Rick Carlisle during his short time with the Dallas Mavericks. Would that be a burden the Nets want to place on rookie head coach Kenny Atkinson?

Rondo is a capable playmaker, as he led the NBA with 11.7 assists per game. But, those numbers are slightly inflated as the Kings played a breakneck pace last season; they led the league with 102.24 possessions per 48 minutes. Rondo has also gotten a reputation as someone who hunts down assists, going out of his way to get one when a simpler pass would have sufficed.

Signing Rondo would also go against what looks to be a rebuild for the Nets. With Young traded, the Nets are signaling that they are ready to do an overhaul. That is tough to do when you do not own your own draft picks, which new general manager Sean Marks will have to try and navigate through thanks to the old regime led by Billy King.

Next: 5 Point Guards For Nets To Target This Summer

It is hard to imagine Rondo being happy about being part of a rebuild, but he is reportedly interested in joining the Nets. The Nets should do their due diligence with Rondo, but it is hard to imagine them being real players for him, unless his value is that low around the rest of the NBA.

If that is the case, the Nets could find themselves a bargain in Rondo, but in what is a weak free agent point guard class, Rondo could cost a lot of money.

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