The agent for Rajon Rondo said late Monday that his client will not sign a contract extension with the Celtics, meaning the 23-year-old point guard will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, Yahoo! Sports reported.
Rondo
According to multiple reports, the Celtics and Rondo's representatives met recently to try to work out a deal but apparently are still far apart. Technically, the sides face a Friday deadline to come to an agreement on an extension that would keep Rondo off the free-agent market next summer, but agent Bill Duffy ruled it out.
"We're not going to do an extension right now," Duffy told Yahoo! Sports. "The conversation has been cordial. We've been talking the last couple of weeks. There is a difference between the perception of him in their eyes and our eyes. With that being said, the focus is on Rajon to have a fantastic season and concentrate on winning a championship."
Duffy said he is looking for a deal that would make Rondo one of the NBA's top five highest-paid point guards. According to Duffy, the Celtics "feel differently," Yahoo! Sports reported.
An unnamed source told Boston sports radio station WEEI that the Celtics offered Rondo a five-year, $45 million extension (an average of $9 million per year), but Rondo is seeking a five-year deal worth between $55 million and $60 million (an average of $11 million to $12 million per year).
Should Rondo become a restricted free agent, he could receive contract offers from other teams after the season. The Celtics would have the right to match any offer he received.
Rondo is making $2.3 million this season in the last year of his rookie contract. He averaged 11.9 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game last season.
The Celtics open their season Tuesday night against the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
