For a player trying to rehabilitate his image, the news behind the NBA's suspension of Rajon Rondo was troubling. The frequent run-ins with coaches, the banishment from Dallas last season, and now this -- it all has some team executives wondering when one of the most talented and combustible players in the league will run out of second chances.
Multiple league sources told CBS Sports that some teams may stay away from Rondo, 29, when he hits the free-agent market next summer. But others suggested that the incident ultimately would have no impact on his market value, making it plausible that he could still land a max deal or close to it on the open market. After all, it only takes one team to set the market for an unrestricted free agent -- and with the cap jumping to $89 million, there will be plenty of teams with cap room and not enough players worthy of it.
But what was clear from all corners of the basketball world on Monday was that there's no place for intolerant speech in a league that has at least one openly gay executive (Rick Welts of the Golden State Warriors); an openly gay former player who recently retired (Jason Collins); and now has two openly gay referees (Violet Palmer and Bill Kennedy, to whom Rondo directed a homophobic slur in a game between the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics on Dec. 3 in Mexico City.)
Rondo received a one-game suspension on Friday for the incident, marking the third time in recent memory that an NBA player has been disciplined for using the anti-gay slur; previously, Kobe Bryant and Joakim Noah were fined.
On Sunday, Kennedy revealed to Yahoo Sports that he is gay. Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement in support of the 18-year veteran official.
"I wholeheartedly support Bill's decision to live his life proudly and openly," Silver said. "Throughout his 18-year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication and courage. Those qualities will continue to serve him well both as a game official and as a positive influence for others. While our league has made great progress, our work continues to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity."
Kings owner Vivek Randive and GM Vlade Divac condemned Rondo's speech in a statement released by the team. Ranadive called it "disrespectful and offensive." Divac said, "Rajon's comment is not reflective of the Sacramento Kings' organization or the world we want to live in."
Rondo apologized to members of the Kings organization, but his statement on Twitter missed the mark.
"My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!" the four-time All-Star tweeted. "They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone."
For a player who was banished from Dallas after only one controversy-filled season -- and who was able to score only a one-year, $9.5 million free-agent deal last summer -- the PR damage was done. Was Rondo aware of Kennedy's sexual orientation when he used the slur? And if so, does that make it worse?
Those are moral judgments that anyone in a free country may choose to make. But at what point will Rondo's conduct cause potential employers to take a pass?
"Depends on how well he plays," one executive said.
But with Rondo, it's never that simple.
To this point, Rondo's reclamation project in Sacramento has seen mixed results. Though he's leading the league in assists -- both total (265) and on a per-game basis (13.0) -- and is tied for 13th in steals per game with 1.9, Rondo is nonetheless piloting a team with the third-worst record in the Western Conference.
He got his one-year deal after Sacramento struck out on other free-agent targets. And he could very well end up being a winner in the free-agent revolving door next summer when the salary cap spikes dramatically.
Teams will be watching closely. At least 17 of them will have room for a max player, and there simply aren't enough of those to go around.
From his difficult personality and clashes with coaches to his unique talents, all of it is very much a matter of public record. Frankly, all of it already was in his personnel file -- the good, the bad and the ugly.
At some point though, it makes you wonder if the latter two will outweigh the former.
