The Chicago Bulls may retain the service of point guard Rajon Rondo, regardless of the outcome of the first-round series against the Boston Celtics, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
Rondo's absence in the series turned out to be a huge blow to the Bulls' playoff hopes, as Brad Stevens and the Celtics found a way to capitalize the situation in the last three games. Now down 2-3 in the series, the Bulls might have no option but to rush the return date of Rondo from a fractured thumb injury.
The former All-Star point guard was the main catalyst behind the Bulls' red-hot start in the series, as he averaged 11.5 points, 10.0 assists, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals in the Bulls' two victories in Boston. He was also responsible for limiting Isaiah Thomas' productiveness in that two road games.
Without Rondo, the Bulls offense wasn't all the same. Butler's effectiveness as a go-to-scorer diminished considerably as he had to fill in the playmaking role as well. Dwyane Wade, on the other hand, might be having a resurgent run this postseason, but the duo simply couldn't offset Rondo's contributions on both ends of the floor.
The Bulls would need every little bit of luck and a semi-healthy Rondo to keep their playoff hopes alive in their next game. However, if their season ultimately ends on Friday, Rondo's future has already been secured, according to Deveney.
"There's some positive feeling on that from Rondo. And now that the Bulls now have a better grasp on how to handle his quirks, they might be more inclined to keep Rondo on board-especially if they decide against trading star Jimmy Butler and eschew the notion of a full rebuild altogether."
The Bulls signed Rondo to a two-year, $27milion contract with the second year of the deal non-guaranteed, Chicago was trying to trade Rondo as early as December because of his attitude, but the former All-Star point guard might have changed the mood of the Bulls' front-office after putting up a stellar performance in the last 13 games of the regular-season (12.0 points, 8.0 assists and 6.2 rebounds/ 47.1 percent FG and 48,7 percent from 3-point territory),
Moreover, Deveney believes Rondo's strong playoff games might have finally sealed the deal for him as part of the Bulls roster next season. With Chicago's guard Michael Carter-Williams, Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne still pretty much raw, Rondo apparently is the best option in a tepid free-agency market for playmakers.
