The prevailing logic is that three point guards - Rondo, Randy Foye of Villanova and Marcus Williams of Connecticut - could be picked in the first round. Last year three point guards - Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Raymond Felton - went in the first five picks and five point guards were chosen in the first round.
While Rondo doesn't have the complete game of Paul, Williams or Felton, he looks to have picked the right time to enter the draft. There is not a complete point guard in the draft, something that should make Rondo a lock to go in the first round and get the guaranteed money he thought he would when he left UK early.
Boston had Rondo, Foye and Williams work out for the second time Monday. Boston also had three forwards and a two guard work out Monday to show that the team either has no idea who it will take with the No. 7 pick or it wants to make sure it does nothing to tip other teams off about who it will pick.
Workouts with several teams
Rondo averaged 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists (best in the Southeastern Conference) and 2.1 steals per game last year for Kentucky. He was easily the Cats' most complete player, but his outside shot is suspect. Still, he's had hard pre-draft workouts with Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto, New Jersey, Seattle, Indiana, Atlanta and Washington. Obviously, NBA teams feel his accuracy can, and will, improve.
Rondo isn't lacking for confidence, either. Following his workout Monday in Boston, he told Associated Press writer Howard Ulman that he was more of an "up-tempo type point guard" than Williams or Foye.
So where will Rondo go in the draft? That's too hard for me to answer, but he will go in round one because he can defend, penetrate and pass. He's also not afraid to rebound and has the physical toughness that NBA teams like.
Remember, even the most loyal UK fan didn't expect Tayshaun Prince to turn out to be the NBA star he has become. Don't be surprised if two years from now Rondo is also making a big name for himself and proving leaving UK early was the right decision for him.
