League sources said the extension is for five years and guarantees Rondo at least $55 million. With the two sides facing a Monday deadline to get a deal done, Duffy said he called Celtics president Danny Ainge on Sunday to inform him Rondo was prepared to play out his contract and become a restricted free agent next summer because they weren’t satisfied with the team’s previous offers. Ainge, however, surprised Duffy by responding that Rondo’s contract hopes would be met.
“As much as we were willing to wait his contract out, the Celtics stepped up to the plate to meet the original request,” Duffy said by phone. “This is a really fair contract. We wanted him to be paid like one of the top five point guards around. It also allows the Celtics to maintain continuity to continue to be one of the best teams at this time.”
Yahoo Sports - "Celtics give Rondo $55 million extension"
There you go. We, and almost everyone else, has been saying $10 mil. a year was a fair number. He's getting $11 million. And our contention that this deal was always going to get done turned out to be right.
“I think he's learning,” said Allen. “He's starting to learn, not knowing the philosophies, he's learning how to handle being professional 24-7, being professional not just when you go out and play basketball, it's community, your community work, how you deal with your teammates, how you deal with your organization, it's how you deal with everything. And I told him that's what encompasses some of the best players in the league making some of the money they make because you have overall responsibilities, not just you being the best basketball player.”
Ray Allen on Rondo learning how to handle himself off the court, in Jessica Camerato's piece, Rondo's education in playing through contract questions.
Let's hope he's learned something. Now comes the next step: dealing with the added expectations. The comments after bad games will be inevitable... "This is what we're getting for $11 million a year?" It's going to happen, because it always happens. Let's see how he handles it.
After the jump, Page 2: where Rondo and Chris Paul exchange words
“I don’t know, man, they won, that’s all. It was a good game,’’ Paul said. “When you’re winning [you can talk trash].’’
When told he looked upset, Paul, hardly drawn in by the questioning, said, “I just have that expression on my face sometimes. I’m a funny guy like that. I was talking to [Pierce and Ray Allen]; somebody came up to me. I don’t know.’’
“The game was a good game, though. We fought hard. Whatever happened afterward is that. Me and Paul at the end of the game were just talking. I know Paul real well. I know Ray Allen really well. I know his family. Rasheed (Wallace), I know him and his kids. I’m good friends with all those guys.”
Chris Paul, in the Herald's Points of contention
Rondo didn't talk about it after the game... but he's the guy who escalated it at the end. And I honestly can't decide if I like it or not. No, I don't want Rondo instigating anything... but I want him to have that fire. It needs to manifest itself differently, but it needs to be there.
The rest of the links
Herald: Rondo shows way to 4th straight win | Glen Davis leaning to the left | Rondo not on guard | Globe: Pierce stings his foe | Pierce: Rondo maturing | Rondo mum on Paul incident | Telegram: Rondo, Paul mix it up after Celts' win | Eagle Tribune: C's defense is priceless | WEEI: Rondo on Hornets, it was intense
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Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images