Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 10:00 am  |  59 responses

Rajon Rondo’s Agent Fires Back at Danny Ainge

by Marcel Mutoni

I had an item up on the site yesterday afternoon about Celtics GM Danny Ainge throwing Rajon Rondo under the bus (which mysteriously disappeared into the web’s ether), but no matter, Rondo’s agent is here to keep the story alive.

Rajon’s rep couldn’t understand why Danny Ainge spoke so harshly about his client, and chose such a public forum to do so. From the Boston Globe:

“I am just surprised that Danny is speaking, even if he considers it constructively, in a public setting [about Rondo],’’ agent Bill Duffy said in a phone interview. “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to say that about one of your top players. Even if it’s spoken constructively, I don’t think it should be done in public. I don’t think [Ainge] would like it if [Celtics managing partner] Wyc [Grousbeck] was talking about him in public.

When asked if Ainge’s comments affected Rondo’s contract situation, Duffy said: “It doesn’t sound like a glowing endorsement. You say you love him and then you are critical? You’re certainly not recruiting him.’’

No, Bill Duffy, Ainge doesn’t sound like he’s recruiting Rajon. In fact, it sounds as though he’s actively shopping him around the L. Better start working those phones.

One gets the feeling that this shall not end well for all parties involved.

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  • Bryan Posted: Jun.25 at 10:03 am
    If you’re shopping a guy but vocally critical of him who’s buying?

  • David Curran Posted: Jun.25 at 10:03 am
    he didn mean anytin bad by talkn bout him

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.25 at 10:13 am
    he is right. You dont criticize the future of your franchise IN PUBLIC.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.25 at 10:13 am
    can’t imagine Rondo being traded. He’s the future of the Celtics.

  • Mendel Posted: Jun.25 at 10:18 am
    Rondo to lakers or cavs

  • Mendel Posted: Jun.25 at 10:18 am
    I guess the have high hopes for starburry

  • Jsoto Posted: Jun.25 at 10:22 am
    F(uck Ainge I will never forgive him for this if he does this there is no way in hell the Celtics are where theyre without Rondo without him, no championship, without him…..no win in the first round and who gives a sh*t that he may rub some of his teamates the wrong way what happened to Kg paul and allen not takin in sh*t huh? if you ask me they need to keep this mofo in line not trade him. Now Allen…….

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.25 at 10:27 am
    Why are all these idiots saying ‘Rondo to the Lakers’? Do you all not realize that Rondo cannot fit into the Triangle at all. If the triangle wasnt adjusted for Gary Payton, why would it be adjusted for Rajon Rondo? IT WOULDNT.

  • Fat Lever Posted: Jun.25 at 10:30 am
    He’s just trying to grease the skids so he doesn’t have to pay Rondo’s soon to be huge raise. You can thank the big 3 for that. I mean, they essentially got what they wanted, a title. Now comes the ugly side, the side that everyone neglected while they were winning that title.

  • Roy Posted: Jun.25 at 10:35 am
    The Celtics better not trade Rondo…

  • nicko Posted: Jun.25 at 10:52 am
    jeez he was late once because he was jamming out in his car before a game…..danny ainge is such a white man

  • B. Long Posted: Jun.25 at 10:55 am
    We don’t want Rondo on the Lakers, BET. You have to have a consistent jumper (at least in the playoffs) to play pg in L.A.

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.25 at 10:57 am
    Why has nobody really discussed that Ainge miscalculated by refusing to re-sign Posey if he had these kind of concerns about Rondo?
    The reason they passed on Posey was to save money for Rondo and their other young players.
    Now they are talking about Rondo ain’t all that?
    So, they basically sacrificed this past season for cap flexibility that they may not even be able to use.
    Nobody thinks this was a mistake?

  • John D Posted: Jun.25 at 10:57 am
    I have a feeling Ainge is just trying to do what he did with Paul Pierce in 2005. Let him know that his a*s could easily be shipped out if he doesn’t smarten up.

  • John D Posted: Jun.25 at 11:01 am
    The reason they didn’t re-sign Posey wasn’t as much about the money as it was about the years. They offered him 3 years but refused to go to 4. New Orleans was the only team that offered him 4 years. The Celtics didn’t want to be paying him through 2012 when he’ll be 35 years old.

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.25 at 11:10 am
    John
    Why do people always pretend that players stick around to the end of their contracts? By the time Posey got that old, he would have probably just been a bargaining chip for another deal.
    The Celtics have a limited window of opportunity with the core they have promised most of their money.
    They should have maximized that window if they weren’t going to try to sign their young players.

  • riggs Posted: Jun.25 at 11:25 am
    @B.Long: if thats the criteria, then some folks need to get the hell out of that team.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.25 at 11:26 am
    Thats my point B.Long! He wont fit in. But yesterday/today, crazed Laker fans keep saying ‘we want Rondo’. If only they could all be like you…

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.25 at 11:29 am
    RUMOR ALERT: Ama’r”e’ to the Rockets?!

  • John D Posted: Jun.25 at 11:46 am
    It’s a good point Allen, and I can’t say I disagree with you.

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.25 at 11:48 am
    John
    I can’t take credit for it entirely. I first read the point about Posey over at Basketbawful.

  • Seth Posted: Jun.25 at 11:58 am
    Little frustrating with the “he said this, he said that” garbage. Just trade Rondo or move on to other things. Obviously the kid is a budding star. My sole concern is that Boston should be careful with any trades they make. Getting anything less for Rondo would be foolish because they already have a strong core (when healthy).

  • RV Posted: Jun.25 at 12:04 pm
    did SLAM delete the post from yesterday where Ainge calls him out?

  • Alpha-bet Posted: Jun.25 at 12:31 pm
    I forgot who said it earlier on here, but in the Rondo & Allen to Piston rumor thread, it was stated it was more than what it seems with Rondo, that it my be friction off the court with Rondo and the rest of the C’s..the more things go on, the more that seems to be the case…
    __
    For Ainge to let out what he let out, he was reaching for some Etherous statements with what he said.

  • Alpha-bet Posted: Jun.25 at 12:32 pm
    *may be friction..I meant to say

  • TADOne Posted: Jun.25 at 12:41 pm
    Overrated.

  • catalan Posted: Jun.25 at 12:41 pm
    “one of your top players”… that’s ridículo. Rajon, learn how to shoot the ball, watch some videos of Stockton or Mark Jackson, and after that: shut up and play some serious basketball.

  • jdbasketball Posted: Jun.25 at 1:04 pm
    too bad rondo can play and the celtics will need him, it seems he will be shipped out now. . .

  • Joe A Posted: Jun.25 at 1:58 pm
    Maybe Danny Ainge is some mad genius, because I don’t see the logic in pissing off/ trying to trade a young, athletic, tough, just almost averaged a triple double through 14 play-off games, and entering a contract year point guard. It just goes to show that the coup he pulled off two years ago to get KG and Allen was a fluke.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.25 at 1:59 pm
    @ BETCATS: Amare for who? Or are you just bsing?

  • jsmallz Posted: Jun.25 at 2:26 pm
    rondo top guard in the l without a shot..just imagine when he developes a shot some more he already showed he has a little range this year just amazes me that people still cant like him as a player.red would kill aienge if he was alive for trading a player he talked to and partly recruited himself.rondos gone then aienge should just leave unless he gets hamilton or chris paul

  • tindore Posted: Jun.25 at 2:46 pm
    hey im a die-hard Laker “fanboy” but i no way do i want our team to add a star player we cant have another dominate ball handler… alot of my fellow Laker fans think we should get every all-star available, we had an all-star lineup in 2004, remember how that turned out…

  • tindore Posted: Jun.25 at 2:50 pm
    i heard a rumor of the Lakers shopping Jordan Farmar and the 1st round pick… the draft pick i understand but does trading Farmar mean Mitch is dedicated to Shannon Brown, i think we should keep our guard rotation intact and just replace Josh Powell with a 2nd rounder…

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.25 at 3:40 pm
    Teddy: Google it. It was created by Peter Vecsey though, so keep that in mind..

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.25 at 3:48 pm
    187 in motion…..

  • Josh D Posted: Jun.25 at 3:48 pm
    Rondo is out of Beantown before you can say championship

  • Moose Posted: Jun.25 at 4:21 pm
    Too late, Josh D.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.25 at 4:51 pm
    Damn, Amare in H-town that could trouble. BET is right on, but you would hope that if it did happen you won’t make the same mistake as they did with GP.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.25 at 4:52 pm
    Damn, Amare in H-town that could be trouble. BET is right on, but you would hope that if it did happen you won’t make the same mistake as they did with GP.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.25 at 4:57 pm
    Tindore, Josh played a big role when Andrew went don’t forget. And he’s always hugging Kobe, so evidently he likes it there. I think we can keep him for low bucks.

  • TADOne Posted: Jun.25 at 5:12 pm
    Anyone aware of the Vince to Orlando deal ESPN is reporting?

  • Statik Posted: Jun.25 at 5:42 pm
    Orlando is seriously trying their hand at bringin in VC

  • Moose Posted: Jun.25 at 5:43 pm
    Looks like it’s happened.

  • musik Posted: Jun.25 at 7:21 pm
    Rondo to Clev.
    Make it happen lebron.
    Does this have slightly potential?

  • MillionDollaMindz Posted: Jun.25 at 7:22 pm
    Danny please don’t make that mistake like ? Joe Johnson Chauncey Billups

  • JoeMaMa Posted: Jun.25 at 11:32 pm
    Ainge is a genius. Gets two top players to compliment pierce, and wins a championship. garnett’s injury kept them from a repeat (or at least a finals battle with the lakers). his moves have made them champions. maybe he feels as though, while rondo put up dirty play off numbers, he won’t prominently fit into a championship squad. say what you feel about rondo being a starter on the champion, the big three won that thing. the trade value is high. let’s not Horry’s-Towel-In-Phoenix him just yet.

  • rob Posted: Jun.26 at 2:39 am
    why would you trade one of the top 3 pg’s in the league? it doesnt make any sense to me. its not even a financial reason! and wht kind of off court issues does he really have? he’s jus a young guy with a big ego and an attitude problem but he is their second toughest player behind KG. ainge should just be fired and they should bring in whoever. go join your buddy mchale why dont ya, ya loser

  • ClydeSays Posted: Jun.26 at 10:20 am
    My opinon is that Ainge was trying to do a bunch of things at once. Speaking honestly about a player in public (not always the best idea), testing the trade market, sending a message to Rondo (no one comes before the team or is untradable, and PG’s who can’t shoot or hit FT’s aren’t max players). I love Rondo and hope he stays with the C’s, but he’s got move alot closer to being a complete player before he starts demanding a max extension. Ainge should keep his mouth shut if he can’t find the ‘Brutally Honest’ filter.

  • hillbilly Posted: Jun.26 at 12:14 pm
    The C’s have always been a notoriously chintzy franchise. They’re like the Cincinnati Reds of the NBA in that they never want to pay their younger, more talented players the kind of money they deserve. It’s no secret, really… They’ve been screwing guys over since the days of Cousy & Russell. Rondo’s current situation is just another example of the Celtics’ brass, playing head games with a kid who’s due to make some serious $$$.

  • BostonBaller Posted: Jun.27 at 9:56 am
    The internet media is more powerful than Stern! (SLAM included) By posting one short article of Ainge speaking to the media all hell broke loose w/ Rondo’s agent and starts tension where there was none. lol. Now all of a sudden it’s gospel that Rondo has an ego and has issues (No facts)People are saying “despite his off court troubles and ego” when they don’t even no those things are true. These are some of the same people who were not too long ago saying he sucked and shouldn’t even be starting. My point is, don’t believe everything you read or you might think that Elvis and Tupac are still alive and live in the condo beside Kobe and Lebron.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.28 at 4:50 pm
    Don’t worry, Rajon. We’d love to have you in New York.
    Demand a trade, now! Celtics can have anyone but Ninja Al, David Lee, and maybe Jordan Hill…

  • B-Moore Posted: Jun.28 at 9:32 pm
    Someone is dumb enough to call Rondo a top 3 pg in the league?? Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Tony Parker. Jason Kidd. Various others.. Then Rajon Rondo. I like Rondos game… But top 3 is a bit high..

  • chintao Posted: Jun.29 at 4:40 am
    Sheeeit, Teddy. The C’s could have all those guys. I only want to keep Wilson Chandler. Unfortunately, even Danny Ainge is not that dumb. Yeah, I called Ainge dumb. Only collusion between McHale and Ainge has obscured the fact that Danny couldn’t be the general manager of potty time at a rest home.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.29 at 12:59 pm
    @ B-Moore: Right now Rondo is better than Jason Kidd. Obviously in his prime, Jason Kidd was the man.
    @ chintao: The Knicks should really stop friggin’ drafting Forwards whenever we clearly need GUARDS.

  • Da Bulls Posted: Jun.29 at 3:43 pm
    Put Rondo on an average or below average team, and he is just an ok point guard. If you put Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker or Derrick Rose on that team they would be unbelievable. Rondo isn’t bad don’t get me wrong, but I think even guys like Baron Davis, Jose Calderon, Rodney Stuckey to name a few could also thrive if they were on the Boston Celtics. So what Ainge is doing is smart. How he is doing it isn’t. Rondo will want a huge contract so why not see if you can get a good deal for him now?

  • The Promise Posted: Jun.29 at 6:29 pm
    @Da Bulls: You are stupid. If it hadnt been for the popularity vote, Rondo would have been an All Star over the washed up (Yeah I said it) Allen Iverson. And, out of Baron, Jose, and Stuckey, Rondo would smoke all of them. And, he can keep up with the guys you mentioned at the top of your post. Rondo is a very good player, and yall need to stop hatin on him.

  • Ciaran Hourican Posted: Jun.29 at 7:10 pm
    Nash for Rondo!!!! Celtics go back to back!!!

  • Yusuffdacelticfan Posted: Jun.29 at 8:46 pm
    Shopping around…I hope the Celtics don’t make the same mistake they made when they Chauncey Billips and Joe Johnson go. They better smarting up and realize that he may be the next J Kidd. Pay the man what he wants and hope he improves his free throw shooting and jumper.

  • mr bad Posted: Jul.1 at 5:26 pm
    celtics finished…

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