Pointless Trade Idea

There looks to be a lot of free agent movement this summer.  This could lead to more sign-and-trade deals allowing players to maximize pay while teams maximize roster/cap flexibility.  An example.

Rajon Rondo clearly does not fit with the Mavs.  He expected to play hard this year (whether in Boston or elsewhere) and get a big money deal this off-season.  I don't think that big money deal is out there (even the Lakers, who are certainly foolhardy enough to give Rondo big money, may find even foolhardier options available) and there are frankly only a coupla places he could play even at so-so money.  So where does he get big money?  (He does not)  Where does he get to play big minutes?  (Not a lot of places)

Rondo could play with the Bulls.  And by that I mean he could play with Noah.  To my mind Noah is the one running that offense (a la Marc Gasol, Chris Webber, Sabonis), his hands are sure hands and having them on the ball never makes the coach sweat (this is a soccer quality or maybe hockey), running the offense through him might not be sexy but it will be efficient, clean and productive.  Rondo can play off of Noah, playing a 2-man game to set up Pao, D Rose, Butler, Mirotic (I think Dunleavy's gone next year).  Noah gets his settling touches, Rondo can dominate the ball without having to score, the other guys can set up and play off the ball just fine; Rondo fits the defensive scheme to a T (Rondo and Noah could be a wicked defensive duo).  The Bulls are the one place that I think Rondo can really be old time Rondo again and make a good team better.

But the Bulls don't have money to spend.  If they could jettison contracts, then Rondo becomes somewhat affordable (if he's willing to backload a deal, the Bulls could afford to overpay as the cap expands).  The way for Rondo to get to the Bulls (or any number of places) is much easier as a sign-and-trade than as a free agent signing.  The Mavs need bodies on their roster so a sign-and-trade could be advantageous for them.

How about this: Rondo re-signs for 1st year/$10m, that matches well with Taj Gibson (2 yrs/$8.5 next year) and Tony Snell (2 yrs/$1.5m next year).  Taj Gibson is falling through the cracks in Chicago (not unlike Omer Asik, Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Tyson Chandler--Bulls got a history), but I think his poor man's Tyson Chandler routine fits with Coach Carlisle and that's not a bad deal over the next 2 years (with or without Tyson Chandler).  Snell is a backup but he's cheap enough to keep as a 3rd string guy, he'll get minutes (if he can get hot as a shooter he can be a star in Dallas).

Bulls get to bring in a star and let go of two guys that weren't gonna play anyway.  Can the Mavs leverage more from the Bulls for Rondo?  Probably but I wouldn't think the Bulls would be into getting gutted for Rondo.  Let's say the Bulls throw in a 2016 2nd round pick and a 2020 2nd round pick (protected).  Rondo for Taj, Snell and 2 2nd round draft picks?  I think Rondo works for the Bulls and the Mavs could use affordably priced bodies.

Keep an eye out for sign-and-trades this year within the usual free agent movement this summer.