I believe Rajon Rondo is done with the Mavericks. You believe Rajon Rondo is done with the Mavericks.
But when Rick Carlisle believes the same thing – and says it publicly – it reaches another level.
Rondo is dealing with some combination of a back injury and poor play, and Dallas is down 2-0 to the Rockets. With Chandler Parsons done for the playoffs, the Mavericks will be done sooner than later.
That doesn’t give Rondo much time to fix all that ails him, which Carlisle recognizes.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
Do you expect Rajon Rondo to ever wear a Mavericks uniform again? "No, I don't," Rick Carlisle said.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 22, 2015
To some degree, this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Carlisle, who feuded with Rondo earlier in the season, doesn’t exactly sound like he wants Rondo back. The proud Rondo might not want to return for a coach who doesn’t want him.
And before either side gets a chance to make amends, Dallas’ season ends, and Rondo becomes a free agent.
We’ve been headed this direction for a while. Carlisle is just done keeping up pretenses.