Rajon Rondo Should Give Sacramento Kings Coach Dave Joerger A Chance

Rajon Rondo had a resurgent season with the Sacramento Kings last year, and he might be looking to sign a large contract in free agency. After all, the Kings were a chemistry disaster despite great numbers from Rondo and big man DeMarcus Cousins. George Karl never gained the trust of this team after trying to get Cousins traded, and the head coach was dismissed once the year ended.

“There were too many distractions on and off the court. The organization as a whole, I don’t think was together completely. I think as a team you have to want the best for the next man beside you, and that wasn’t the case with the Sacramento Kings,” Rondo said to ESPN. “Too much tension. I’ve never witnessed or experienced a thing like that in my 10-year career.”

The point guard averaged 11.9 points, 11.7 assists and six rebounds per game, and he helped Cousins put up 26.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest. The Kings have a new head coach in Dave Joerger, and Rondo should give the man a chance. Joerger had an impressive record of 147-99 during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies, and he obviously saw playoff potential in the Kings this offseason when taking interviews.

Rondo won’t have a lot of options due to the bridges he has burned during his career. His stint with the Dallas Mavericks was a dumpster fire, and that is a shame. They would’ve been a phenomenal fit for him if he had just let Rick Carlisle run the show, and Dirk Nowitzki could’ve really used a point guard similar to Jason Kidd in the twilight of his career. Rondo has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks as potential free agency destinations.

In the end, though, the point guard should probably stay where he is. If his claim about Cousins being the best big man in the league is true, then the Kings should make the playoffs next season under Joerger. Chemistry couldn’t possibly be worse than last year, and Rondo could be part of a renaissance in Sacramento.

The NBA was never more exciting than when Chris Webber and Mike Bibby were going toe-to-toe with the Lakers, and that team got robbed out of a title. Rondo won’t win another championship, but it would be special for him to lead a dysfunctional franchise like the Kings back into the postseason.