19. Rajon Rondo, New Orleans Pelicans
The general disdain for Rondo is irritating. He had one bad run in Dallas, and that has managed to overshadow all the good he’s done elsewhere in the league. He garnered consistent praise from his younger teammates in Chicago last season, and Alvin Gentry is already lauding him as one of the smartest individuals he’s ever coached.
Rondo will miss the first four-to-six weeks of next season with a sports hernia, which means Jrue Holiday will take on the role of primary creator until then. Once Rondo’s back, though, the two are expected to share the backcourt, which is an odd mix considering the team’s need for spacing alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis.
With that said, Rondo’s instincts as a passer allow him to impact the game without scoring or spacing the floor at an advanced rate. He’ll be able to manipulate plays and set up Boogie and Davis in ways Holiday hasn’t, all while providing a valuable voice to a locker room that could be in desperate need of some guidance if things start to go south.