Pierce surprised by Rondo's stint with Mavs: 'I didn't see that coming'

The trade of four-time NBA All-Star Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2014 was viewed as a major acquisition for the franchise at the time. The now 29-year-old was leaving a rebuilding project with the Boston Celtics, joining a Mavericks squad that was searching for that missing piece to vault it back into championship contention.

Things unraveled in a hurry, though, with Rondo succumbing to a series of injuries, while also failing to establish any semblance of a cordial relationship with head coach Rick Carlisle.

Paul Pierce, a former teammate of Rondo's in Boston, envisioned the two-time league assists leader finding new life in the Lone Star State, perhaps returning to form as the elite floor general who had run the offense of the 2008 NBA champions. That never happened, though.

"I was surprised, truthfully, when I saw what happened with Dallas," Pierce said, according to the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett. “I mean, I think it just kind of spiraled out of control."

"I didn't see that coming. When they made the trade, I looked at Dallas as a real, real contender. Now, they had a guard who could run the show, defensively match up with the other guards of the West."

Pierce's relationship with Rondo wasn't always perfect, with the 17-year veteran going as far as publicly questioning his worth ethic while in Beantown in an April interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. Even so, Pierce - now with the Los Angeles Clippers - hopes the controversial point guard can find his way in his new surroundings.

"I'm not on the inside. I can't tell you what happened (in Dallas), how it all came to that," Pierce said. "I just want Rondo to be in a place where he can show people the player that he is, that he truly is."

Rondo will get that opportunity this upcoming season as one of the newest members of the Sacramento Kings, having agreed to a one-year, $9.5-million deal with the team this offseason.