Donnie Nelson: We’d Pull Trigger On Rondo Trade Again

Hoping to integrate a pass-first point guard that could take the team to the next level, the (Dallas) Mavs’ front office worked a deal to add Rondo to the starting lineup. But, after averaging 8.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 10.8 assists in 22 appearances for the Celtics this season,(Rajon) Rondo would see a dramatic dip in his production after joining the Mavericks.

Battling his way back from an orbital fracture to his left eye and nasal fracture suffered on Jan. 31 that caused him to miss six games, Rondo averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in his 46 regular-season appearances for the Mavs. He then played just 37 total minutes in the playoffs before exiting Game 2 with a back injury, leaving the team shortly after that while seeking additional medical opinions.

Still, according to team president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks wouldn’t hesitate to make the trade again in order to increase their odds of securing a second title in franchise history.

“That was definitely something worth pulling the trigger on,” Nelson explained. “In our opinion, that was kind of the one piece that was missing. … We’ve had a history of doing well with pass-first point guards. Sometimes, when things are written down on paper, they look great. When things are going into the oven, they feel great. And a lot of times, when it comes out, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. It was one of those things that in our estimation certainly wasn’t risk-free, but it was certainly worth the risk. If we would’ve had to do it all over again, we would’ve pulled the trigger again.”

via Earl K. Sneed of NBA.com/Mavericks