The Dallas Mavericks are officially back!
For two years the Boston Celtics have been secretly shopping All-Star guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo, a starter from the Celtics 2008 championship team has been the key component in trade discussions with multiple teams. Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge wanted a deal that could help the Celtics improve without dealing Rondo to an Eastern Conference team.
The Dallas Mavericks played the role of sleeper team out West prior to acquiring Rondo. With the addition of Rondo, Dallas may have added enough juice to compete with the best teams out West. The Mavericks took the San Antonio Spurs to a seventh game in last year's Western Conference First-Round Playoff Series. Dallas was the only team to force the Spurs to a seventh game during their playoff run. Dallas isn't as far away from being a championship team as some would think.
Dirk Nowitzki remains one of the elite big forwards in the NBA. Dirk is averaging 18.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assist per night. At 36 years of age Dirk is still shooting 47% from the field. Another title run could be in the works for the greatest European player in NBA history. Rondo could be the best passer Dirk's ever played with. No disrespect to two-time MVP Steve Nash.
The NBA is stacked with elite players at the point guard position. Rondo sits atop that list. The veteran guard is one of the only pass first guards in the league today. Rondo leads the NBA with 10.8 assist per game. His 1.68 steals per game is good enough for 11th in the league. Monte Ellis and Chandler Parsons will have run filling the lane on a team that's accustomed to scoring points.
Dallas has remained one of the most consistent teams in the league due to good personnel decisions. Dirk is one of the best building blocks in the league. The trade should assure the Mavericks another 50 win season.
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