Rondo, Celts on top after first week

It was supposed to be over. After weeks of negotiations, Rajon Rondo had reached an impasse with the Celtics on a contract extension. Rondo was seeking a five-year deal in the $55-60 million range. The Celtics were fine with the years but preferred to pay him somewhere between $42-$47 million. So pessimistic was Rondo that he talked openly before Sunday's game about becoming a restricted free agent next summer, even questioning whether he would be a Celtic beyond this season.

But suddenly, just hours before Monday's deadline, Boston agreed with Rondo on a reported five-year, $55 million contract.

It was a smart move by the Celtics, who need a focused Rondo on the court if they hope to contend for their second title in three years. As much as the Celtics' front office likes to take veiled shots at its brash, young point guard through the media, Rondo is the best fit for this team. He's a defensive-minded playmaker who doesn't require many shot attempts and looks increasingly comfortable in a leadership position in this, his fourth season. He makes good decisions in transition and is able to spread shots around so well that there is rarely a whisper of dissatisfaction in the locker room. His faults (erratic shooting, occasional lapses in judgment) aren't uncommon among most young players; they are just magnified by the fact that Rondo is a star on the biggest stage.

It's also a savvy move for the long term. Most of the key players on the roster are on the other side of 30. Ray Allen, 34, will be a free agent after this season. Paul Pierce, 32, holds a $21.5 million player option for next season. Kevin Garnett, 33, has a contract that ends in 2012. Rondo, 23, can't carry a team to a title, but if he continues to develop, he can certainly be a cornerstone player on a championship team in a few years.

Of course, some would argue he already is. Rondo's scoring (6.5 points) has been modest so far, but he has racked up double-digit assists in each one and is a big reason why the Celtics are 4-0 and sit atop our first NBA Power Rankings of the season.

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