Report: Rondo unlikely to stay in Dallas; Chandler, Ainge weigh in

Rajon Rondo's blow-up with head coach Rick Carlisle on Tuesday could have consequences that reach far beyond the point guard's one-game suspension.

Acquired from the Boston Celtics in December, Rondo sat out the Dallas Mavericks' loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday because of conduct detrimental to the team. In Tuesday's game, Rondo sat most of the second half after getting into an altercation with Carlisle on the sideline, one that was reported to have continued into the locker room after the game.

Everyone is saying the right things around the club, with Carlisle backing Rondo as an important piece. But it's become extremely unlikely that Rondo, an unrestricted free agent this summer, will remain with the Mavericks beyond this season, according to a report from Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.

Rondo's fit in Dallas always seemed somewhat tenuous but the expeditious degeneration of the situation is startling. Always a somewhat prickly character, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge didn't exactly seem shocked that Rondo would butt heads with a new coach.

"I know that Rondo is an emotional guy and feisty," Ainge said, Brian Robb of CelticsHub reports. "None of it really surprises me."

While the Mavericks were surely hoping to keep Rondo long-term when they surrendered a first-round pick, a second-round pick and three roster players for him, the more pressing focus is the season at hand. 

Rondo is averaging nine points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists since joining Dallas and the on-court fit has been tough enough to navigate that the team is 2.9 points per-100 possessions better with Rondo off the court than on it. There remains ample time to smooth the situation out, on and off the court, ahead of a playoff push for the 39-21 Mavericks and center Tyson Chandler even sees some potential benefit in Tuesday's clash.

"If anything, it should make the team stronger," Chandler said. "For one, it should make those two have better communication. ... Two guys who are competitors, who want to win, sometimes it's better that you have a little blowout. It lets you know that you're on the same page, that you want to win."

That may be an overly optimistic spin, but it's certainly possible that the argument, within the confines of a strong locker room, bring coach and player a little closer together.

In the long run, failing to placate Rondo may have Dallas looking for a new point guard this summer.