It would appear that the honeymoon between Rajon Rondo and the Dallas Mavericks is already over. The Mavericks traded for Rondo earlier this season, hoping that he would prove to be the final piece they needed to stage a legitimate championship run.
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Instead, it appears that Rondo and head coach Rick Carlisle do not get along, and it may get worse. Rondo was suspended for a game after a sideline altercation with Carlisle earlier this week that resulted in Rondo's benching. According to ESPN, Dallas should hold no illusions about trying to re-sign the point guard.
The two will surely work to get along so that Dallas can still make a playoff run, but it is "extremely unlikely" that Rondo plays for Dallas beyond this season. One of the main reasons for the dissension is apparently Carlisle's reluctance to allow Rondo to call the plays for the offense.
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Rondo has earned his reputation as a smart player, and Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the league, but the two just cannot agree on how to best run the offense, which is causing the problem.
"We'll just wait and see how it is moving forward," said Dirk Nowitzki. "Obviously, both sides have got to come together. That's the only way.
"We have high goals this season, obviously making the playoffs and making a long playoff run. You can't do that if guys pull in different directions. They're both smart enough to know that. We've got to be on the same page moving forward."
"I need to say this very clearly: He is an extremely important part of our team," Carlisle said of Rondo. "Our efforts to get to the highest possible level largely hinge on him playing and playing well with him. He needs to play well with us, and we need to play well with him. It's a two-way street."
There have already been rumors linking Rondo to the Lakers when he is a free agent after the season, and that possibility may be more likely now that he appears to be over being a Maverick. Kobe Bryant has said that he wants to recruit free agents to L.A. after the season and mentioned Rondo as part of his list.
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