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Chicago Bulls news: Rajon Rondo likely to return to team next season

By Dan Schmelzer

Apr 18, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo (9) controls the ball during the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo (9) controls the ball during the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Bulls front office made it clear that they want Rajon Rondo back with the team next season.

Rajon Rondo was a big-time difference maker for the Chicago Bulls down the stretch this past season. Sure, he is a terrible outside shooter and that hurts him in today’s NBA, but Rondo is still a great distributor who thrives with the ball in his hands. The Bulls were at their best this past season when Rondo was on the floor and running the offense.

Once he went down with his broken thumb in the postseason series against the Boston Celtics, the Bulls fell apart and quickly blew their 2-0 series lead. If the Chicago Bulls expect to be competitive in the near future, getting Rondo back helps.

Rondo is a free agent this offseason but based on the comments by the front office, expect him to back with the Bulls next year. John Paxson, in particular, had a lot to say about Rondo in Wednesday’s press conference. Paxson’s comments below come courtesy of K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

"“There’s a really good chance that we bring Rajon back and for these reasons: As we get younger, it’s still really important to have quality veterans around your young players. To a man, our young people loved Rajon,” Paxson told the media on Wednesday.“(Rondo) was great in the locker room,” he continued. “He was great off the court with these guys. He took them under his wing in a lot of ways, and he was responsible for a lot of the good things that came from them. We have a lot of respect for Rajon, especially how he believes in the game. He used to drag guys into the weight room, and he held them accountable in a lot of ways. We really take a lot from him, and we’re looking forward to sitting down with him this week.”"

Personally, I am not sure that running this thing back with the same players is the best plan of attack for the Chicago Bulls. This franchise is long overdue for a complete teardown and rebuild. If they can get proper value for Jimmy Butler, tearing this thing down is probably the best plan of attack for the Bulls.

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That being said, Paxson and Gar Forman have never shown the willingness to go through a full rebuild and do not seem ready to do it right now. The Bulls clearly (wrongly) believe that they can be competitive with this team and appear ready to roll with back with a similar squad.

If they are going to continue to go all in for the present, bringing Rondo back is a must. He played extremely well down the stretch and can help lead this team back to where they were. I do not see a team led by Butler, Rondo and Dwayne Wade making a deep run the postseason, but if the Bulls are against truly rebuilding, bringing Rondo back at least keeps them in the postseason run.

The biggest issue here is Rondo being a ball dominant player. He was great for the team down the stretch but putting good outside shooters around Butler would probably be a better plan of attack. Butler is the superstar of this team and he is best with the ball in his hands as well. Having arguably your two best players being so dependent on making plays with the ball in their hands is a less than ideal situation.

Bringing Rondo back would not be the worst thing in the world. He proved that he is still a capable starting NBA point guard late last season. That being said, he is not a big enough impact player to take this team to the next level. Bringing Rondo back would signal the continued complacency with mediocrity from the Chicago Bulls.

Next: NBA Mock Draft: Bulls trade Butler for first pick

Jimmy Butler will still probably will this team to a respectable showing but that does not mean they are on the right path. The Bulls are stuck in mediocrity with no signs of coming out of it anytime soon.

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