NBA via Boston Celtics(NEW YORK) — The Dallas Mavericks’ season ended in disappointing fashion, but point guard Rajon Rondo’s fate with the team was sealed before even getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
After a 36-second stint during the Mavericks Game 2 playoff game against the Houston Rockets in which he picked up two personal fouls and a technical, Rondo never appeared in the lineup again. At the time, the team announced it was because of a back injury.
But according to ESPNDallas.com’s Tim MacMahon, Rondo’s injury was fabricated by the team.
“The truth was that the Mavs didn’t want Rondo, who was going to be replaced in the starting lineup regardless, pouting and rubbing off on other players, [Monta] Ellis in particular,” MacMahon said. “Essentially, the Mavs made a drastic move in an attempt to do damage control on a chemistry crisis.”
Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has even acknowledged that Rondo will likely never play for the team ever again. He’s set to become a free agent this summer.
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