As the season winds down, it’s time for the Chicago Bulls to consider the development of their younger guards and sit Rajon Rondo. It’s time to extend the leashes of Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne.
It’s time for Fred Hoiberg to send Rajon Rondo to the bench.
And I don’t mean coming off the bench like he is now.
I mean, super glue him there.
Or just tell him the seasons canceled.
Let him know that he’s actually been traded to the new expansion team in Seattle. I don’t care how it happens, just make sure Rondo doesn’t step on the hardwood as a Bull ever again.
Jerian Grant has been the best point guard for the Bulls. If you traded away a fan favorite and a draft pick for Cameron Payne, you have to play him. Plus, Payne is 22, so getting him as much run as possible is worth seeing if there is anything real about his potential. There is just no reason for giving Rondo minutes over either of these guys. It’s infuriating.
For as much as Hoiberg has been mixing up the rotations, Rondo has been getting consistent run since his DNP stint ended. Rondo has only played less than 18 minutes five times since then. That’s over a 25-game span. Grant has had 13 games playing less than 18 minutes in the same span. Grant has just flat out been better. He deserves to play more.
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To start, Grant has a net rating 3.7 points higher than Rondo. So, the team is just improved when Grant is out there, yet Rondo is averaging 10 more minutes than Grant on the year. I’m over the argument that he is good to have out there to set up bench guys. Rondo looks to pass a lot, obviously.
Along with that, comes a lot of turnovers. Rondo is averaging almost two more turnovers a game than Grant while only having a usage rating one percent higher. Just because you look to pass a lot doesn’t mean you aren’t selfish, and that’s all talking about being better right now.
If we start to think about the future, which the Bulls should be doing, it’s more logical to give Grant extended runs. Grant is under control for two more years past this season, so take this time to let him develop more and figure out what you really have.
Rondo will hopefully be gone next season, as him and the Bulls have a mutual option on the second year of the deal. There really is no point in playing Rondo any further. Grant and Payne should take on the minutes for developmental purposes. And honestly, any extra point guard minutes should just go to Jimmy Butler.
Payne hasn’t been good in a Bulls uniform; though six games in, he’s shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. If his shooting holds up, it’d be smart to continue getting him minutes in hopes that he develops other parts of his game. Plus, considering the stuff they gave up to get him, they’d look silly to bury him on the bench.
There are real-time benefits to benching Rondo as well as betterment of the future.
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Hoiberg needs to sack up like he did back in January and sit this guy. I’m done watching him and done having someone with his type of history on this team.