Steph Curry just being Steph Curry at Warriors practice

Ainge, Rondo Are On the Same Page Extension Talks Loom

WALTHAM — If there was one positive from the dual Rajon Rondo-Danny Ainge address Monday at Celtics media day, it was Ainge freely acknowledging Rondo’s market value when free agency begins next July.

If there was any question about whether Rondo is a maximum salary player, Ainge answered it convincingly; he realizes re-signing the four-time All-Star point guard will require an estimated $107 million over five years.

Eric Bledsoe’s five-year, $70 million extension from the Suns changed the market for point guards, especially since Bledsoe has battled injuries and has yet to make an All-Star appearance. While injuries have plagued Rondo recently, he has an opportunity to prove worthy of a max salary with an impressive final year of his current contract.

Rondo had a black sling protecting his broken left hand, which he sustained in a slip and fall Thursday in his Boston-area home, while he addressed the media. While the injury is expected to cost him training camp and the first two weeks of the regular season, Rondo should have ample time to prove he’s totally recovered from his January 2013 right anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Ainge and Rondo wanted to spend as little time discussing the broken hand as possible. They were eager to talk about 1) the Celtics’ desire to bring him back next year and beyond, and 2) Rondo’s wish to come back. Both realize it will be difficult to continue their marriage; that would result in the largest financial commitment ever made to a Celtic.

Rondo again said he wants to remain in Boston. While he has been a polarizing figure among fans for several years, he has become somewhat comfortable, evidenced by his spending most of the summer here instead of his native Kentucky.

“The fans, the people here, make me want to stay,” said Rondo. “The organization has been great. I can’t say enough about Danny and [majority owner] Wyc [Grousbeck]. When I walk down the street, the fans embrace me from Day 1. Even when we won a championship, people don’t just appreciate us winning. It’s more of a thank you. It’s a love for the game. These people here know the game and they care for it. They know when you’re not playing as hard as you can. The love I get is kind of overwhelming in Boston. Why wouldn’t I want to stay here?”

The answer would be strictly because of the money, especially if the Celtics continue toward respectability and a playoff run. There’s no question Rondo has seen the salaries given to less-proven players such as Bledsoe, Chandler Parsons, Eric Gordon, and John Wall — all of whom will be paid more this season than Rondo — and feels envious.

Rondo will be the league’s 36th-highest paid player in 2014-15, and that is most certainly going to jump toward the top 10 next year. “Obviously with this injury I’m just anxious to get back out there on the court and show what I can do and win games, play with my teammates, go out there, have fun, and do what I love doing best — that’s playing basketball,” he said. “Everything else will come. What other guys do is what other guys do. During negotiation time, it will come up, but right now, I can’t jump to July 1 already. I’ve got to live in the moment and take care of what I need to take care of as far starting this training camp off right and being on the sideline and encouraging the young guys and help lead them.”

Ainge realizes a long-term commitment to Rondo could affect the team’s salary cap for years. Rondo has played in the NBA since he was 20 and would be 34 at the conclusion of a maximum deal. Yet, having signed a below-market five-year deal in 2009, Rondo is seeking to make up for that. Ainge understands.

“I think a four-time All-Star by the time he’s 27 years old would qualify for max based on what we’ve seen in the marketplace,” Ainge said. “If I were Rajon and I were Rajon’s agent [Bill Duffy], I would definitely say that. But since I’m negotiating against him, I’ll withhold.” In other words, the Celtics have roughly nine months to determine whether Rondo will receive that money here or elsewhere. And it’s rather refreshing that Ainge admitted what the parameters of such an agreement would be. He hasn’t always been so open about players of the past, such as Kendrick Perkins or Tony Allen.

It doesn’t matter whether Ainge believes Rondo is worth a max deal because that’s what it’s going to take. Elite players, once they reach the midway point of their careers, are generally overpaid (except LeBron James).

The league’s five highest-paid players are Kobe Bryant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard, and only the latter two are in their prime. James is sixth.

Ainge doesn’t have to make a decision now, but he will have to make a decision. Keeping Rondo a Celtic for life will cost Ainge, but it’s encouraging for those who want Rondo to stay that both sides agree on the terms. That’s at least a start.

Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.

Here we go again with questonable draft decisions

It seems that kids take a long time to learn from the example of the predecesors and that is especially the case when it comes to college basketball players deciding when to enter the NBA Draft. With the NCAA's newly implemented deadlines, players have until April 10 or Tuesday to make a decision on whether to enter school.

That date was mandated by the NCAA because college coaches complained of being unable to replace those prospects who waited sometimes as late as June to make their decision whether to leave school. So kids are now blindly entering the draft, hoping that they will land in the lottery or first round where they will receive a guaranteed contract. So players such as Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Meyers Leonard (Illinois), Austin Rivers (Duke) and Tony Wroten (Washington) have already thrown their names into the pool, hoping to entice teams to consider them a potential cornerstone.

But potential is the key word here. There have been countless of players who submitted their names, truly believing they were destined for stardom and now they are barely hanging on or missed their sliver of opportunity to succeed. Xavier Henry, Willie Warren and Josh Selby are names from the past two drafts that were supposed to make an impact. Henry and Selby are clinging on to NBA rosters while Warren is in the NBADL.

Unless the goal of leaving college early was to experience the lavish life of the NBADL, Warren made a mistake leaving Oklahoma three years early and is in the NBADL while Selby and Henry are just guys on rosters, hardly considered building blocks for the future. They are in league survival mode.

The NBA admittedly does not want unprepared players in their league but they have to scout and evaluate those prospects who may be entering the draft prematurely. Unfortunately, the NCAA rules has eliminated the NBA's chance to look at potential draftees before offering suggestions about staying in the draft or returning to school. By the time teams will have a chance to look at players, the decision-making process is over and we'll welcome a new slew of youngsters entering the NBA without much chance to succeed because they are unprepared.
The NBA and NCAA have to collaborate for one uniform rule on draft entry, hopefully one that allows the 19-year-old to avoid the chances of making a decision he will regret for his entire life. There are countless examples of those players who lament their decisions decades later.

Pryor is all that's wrong with college athletics

Do you think Joe Paterno breathes daily sighs of relief that Terrelle Pryor chose Ohio State instead of Penn State?

The carnage Pryor left in Columbus, Ohio after his uneven and controversial three-year stint with the Buckeyes may be unprecedented for a college athlete since those chaotic days in the 1980s at Southern Methodist University.

And to improve his chances of entering the NFL's supplemental draft, Pryor attempts to add more embarrassment to Ohio State by admitting he took money from a mentor, something he did not bother to inform Ohio State or the NCAA during their investigations of his activities under coach Jim Tressel.

So basically, to bolster his opportunity to make money professionally, Pryor admitted to more wrongdoings to convince the NFL that he would not have been eligible to play next season for Ohio State. Pryor, a highly recruited quarterback four years ago, was already suspended for the first five games of the season for accepting tattoos and cash for items such as his Big Ten championship ring and other memorabilia.

And instead of sitting out those games, Pryor decided to leave school when Tressel resigned under pressure for not immediately reporting the violations when he was informed by a booster. The NFL has allowed Pryor to enter Monday's supplemental draft, a selection process mostly of college players banished from their programs, but commissioner Roger Goddell informed NFL teams that Pryor must sit out the first five regular-season games for the team that drafts him.

In order words, he carried over that Ohio State suspension to the NFL, penalizing Pryor for his sudden revelation that he accepted money from his mentor. This punishment is more than fair for a young man obviously misguided about his own worth and who appears hardly remorseful for his actions.

It's one thing to accept money during those college playing days to feed yourself or your family and it's another to trade in merchandise for tattoos. Pryor was a pro before he even played his first college game, a legend in his own mind more than willing to choose the program that offered him the most perks. While his talent never quite caught up with his ego, Pryor showed flashes of brilliance at Ohio State but always seemingly made sure to reward himself for his moderate accomplishments.

And in order to continue those rewards, he freely admitted to more misdeeds with little consideration of the program and teammates he abruptly disassociated with when it became apparent that Columbus was no longer a welcome place anymore. So a five-game suspension is a little more than a slap on the wrist for someone who deserves more stringent punishment.

Pryor is a product of a college system that is dysfunctional and the blame should be placed on all sides, his parents for allowing him to believe that was somehow being correctly compensated and the university, which allows boosters and alumni to exploit these young men with little repercussions.

The system is wrecked and only a collective effort from coaches, parents, universities and yes, even the players themselves, will correct it. Until then, players such as Terrelle Pryor will take their chances if a five-game suspension is the most severe of consequences.

Somehow, I think he believes it was worth it.

Gary Washburn's Mock NBA Draft

By Gary Washburn

Well, the day is here and after some arduous work and research this is the best mock draft we can come up with. But this draft is so unpredictable and bizarre with several prospects who are talented but not quite ready for the NBA. So here's my best guess and we'll talk about these picks in the coming days.

1) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Kyrie Irving, Duke 6-4, 191

There is so much mystery attached to Irving (above) because he played just 11 college games. But the upside is so tremendous and Cleveland is looking to move forward after LeBron’s abrupt departure, this helps the process.

2) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Derrick Williams, Arizona, 6-9, 248

The Timberwolves are shopping this pick, but imagine a combo of Williams at the small forward and Kevin Love at power forward. GM David Kahn has bizarre ways but he is building a team and Williams has a polished game.

3) UTAH JAZZ
Brandon Knight, Kentucky, 6-4, 177

The Jazz are also considering Enes Kanter at this position and they are in the position of sitting Knight for a year or two and playing Devin Harris. But this is a key pick that could cause a domino affect with the rest of the draft.

4) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Enes Kanter, Turkey 6-11, 260

The Cavaliers are looking to move this pick for an established veteran, however, the alternative is a solid big man and legitimate center who could team with Anderson Varejao for rebounds. Yet, he is another international mystery.

5) TORONTO RAPTORS
Jan Vesely, Czech Republic 6-11, 240

This could go in many directions, especially with new coach Dwane Casey carrying a defensive philosophy. He doesn’t want another scorer who can’t defend as in Andrea Bargnani but Vesely’s athleticism is to enticing to pass up and he along with Ed Davis and Bargnani are a strong combo.

6) WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Tristian Thompson, Texas 6-9, 227

Thompson said Wednesday that wants to go to a team that runs the ball, and there is no more perfect of a place than Washington with John Wall. Thompson is a strong character guy who could eventually replace the checkered Andray Blatche.

7) SACRAMENTO KINGS
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State, 6-7, 228

The Kings are looking to make a playoff run and put fans in the seats to support a new arena and they need a swingman with defensive prowess. He will mesh in well with the team’s younger core.

8) DETROIT PISTONS
Bismack Biyombo, Congo, 6-9, 243

A team without a coach has many options with this pick but the defensive-minded Biyombo brings his lunch pail to the Motor City and eventually takes over for Ben Wallace. But the Pistons are also looking for another swingman.

9) CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Marcus Morris, Kansas, 6-9, 230

Michael Jordan called this draft the most important in Charlotte history and the Bobcats need an established scorer who can make a splash right away. Marcus is more polished than his twin brother and will make fans forget lamenting the loss of Gerald Wallace.

10) MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Alec Burks, Colorado, 6-6, 193

Burks is a player who could blossom into a star like Paul George the year before. He is a prolific scorer and shooter and has good size. With John Salmons already there, the Bucks don’t need Burks to produce immediately.

11)GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Klay Thompson, Washington, State, 6-7, 206

Thompson proved he could score in the Pac-10 and should flourish in a fast-paced offense, but there are questions about his toughness and character. But the Warriors are a piece or two away from being really dangerous.

12) UTAH JAZZ
Chris Singleton, Florida State, 6-9, 230

Jazz pass up on Jimmer Fredette to get best defender in the draft and someone to take pressure off Al Jefferson. Singleton is long and versatile and doesn’t need the ball much. But he may have to play some center.

13) PHOENIX SUNS

Kemba Walker, Connecticut, 6-1, 184

Phoenix likes to score and an up-tempo style and Walker could become the heir apparent to Steve Nash while playing with Nash as a rookie. This is a little lower than expected for Walker but it may be the best fit.

14) HOUSTON ROCKETS

Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania, 7-0, 245

He is dropping because of a European contract that has committed him to staying with Lietuvos Rytas but he’s worth waiting a year on as a legitimate center and Kevin McHale needs bigs to succeed with the Rockets.

15) INDIANA PACERS
Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young, 6-3, 196

Larry Bird loves Jimmer and he could be the point guard the Pacers have been seeking for years. Indiana just needs bodies and it seems stacked in the frontcourt, so Fredette is a risk but a smart one.

16) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Marshon Brooks, Providence, 6-5, 195

With Andre Iguodala being shopped, the 76ers need a new scoring guard who can develop into a standout player. Brooks put up major numbers with little fanfare in the Big East and he’s a good fit here.

17) NEW YORK KNICKS
Nikola Vucevic, USC, 7-0, 260

He is a versatile big man who can shoot from the outside and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, who played for years in Italy, is not afraid to nab a European-born player. And he is a legitimate center.

18) WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Jordan Hamilton, Texas, 6-9, 229
The Wizards take Thompson’s teammate in this spot to fill their small forward void. Washington already has a point guard and center and Hamilton is skilled enough to become an impact player.

19) CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania, 7-0, 245

Quick. Name Charlotte’s starting center? Kwame Brown and the Bobcats can definitely use a home-grown upgrade. He can score and has NBA size, and Charlotte needs to get serious about developing a big man.

20) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech, 6-6, 222

The Wolves need swingmen and athletes and they choose Shumpert to team in the backcourt with Ricky Rubio with Wesley Johnson at the small forward. He will find his way into the rotation.

21) PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, 6-8, 225

Portland has longed for the athleticism and aggressiveness of Faried and they seem set in most other positions. The Celtics would love for him to slip down the 25, but the Trail Blazers get a much-needed tough guy who doesn’t need the ball.

22) DENVER NUGGETS
Tobias Harris, Tennessee, 6-8, 223

With Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen likely gone, the Nuggets need to get younger in the paint and the inexperienced Harris likes to play defense and is coachable. He should have stayed in school but bailed when Bruce Pearl got into deep trouble in Knoxville.

23) HOUSTON ROCKETS
Reggie Jackson, Boston College, 6-3, 209

Kyle Lowry is a solid NBA point guard but he is undersized and injury prone, so Jackson comes in here to learn the position and give the Rockets some backcourt help. But he has not worked out for teams because of a knee injury.

24) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Markeiff Morris, Kansas, 6-9, 241

The Thunder like rugged players and Morris is their type of guy. Nick Collison is 30 while Kendrick Perkins showed signs of slowing down after coming over from the Celtics. Morris is a glue player with solid shooting skills.

25) BOSTON CELTICS
Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA, 6-8, 188
If he had stayed another year, Honeycutt would be a top 10 pick, and the Celtics don’t need him to produce right away, but they need a player who can grow into a star. Honeycutt makes the game look easy and he is just starting to scratch the surface.

26) DALLAS MAVERICKS

Jeremy Tyler, Italy, 6-11, 262

With Tyson Chandler as a free agent, the Mavericks invest in their future and they don’t need the inexperience Tyler to perform immediately. And Mavs owner Mark Cuban has no problem taking draft chances.

27) NEW JERSEY NETS
Justin Harper, Richmond, 6-9, 228

With their point guard and center all set, the Nets go after the talented Harper with their only first-round pick. They have to score with this one because they gave so much to Utah for Deron Williams.

28) CHICAGO BULLS

Nolan Smith, Duke, 6-4, 188

What better for Tom Thibodeau’s system than a defensive-minded two-guard? Smith has an NBA pedigree with his late father Derek and he comes from a four-year stint at Duke. He immediately becomes a rotation player.

29) SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Davis Bertans, Latvia, 6-10, 210

The Spurs are all set for one more title run but they could use another big man down the road. Bertains may stay overseas for a year or two but he will be back.

30) CHICAGO BULLS
Chandler Parsons, Florida, 6-9, 220

Parsons is polished and can shoot from the perimeter. The Bulls lacked perimeter shootings and none of their forwards are outside threats besides Luol Deng. Parsons fills a needed role.

Athletes should be more expressive, but also informed

This has been an interesting week when it comes to athletes and social opinions. The killing of Osama Bin Laden sparked celebration from many Americans and reactions from certain athletes who have offered their thoughts on the landmark news and the aftermath.

Two athletes -- the Milwaukee Bucks' Chris Douglas-Roberts (pictured right) and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Rashard Mendenhall -- were chided for their Twitter comments, although they were different. Douglas-Roberts, an astute person who has quite a Twitter following, pondered the celebration of someone's death, especially since Afghans and others in the Middle East were celebrating the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Mendenhall went a little further to not only criticize the celebration but suggesting that we didn't know Bin Laden and knew only "one side of the story."

Douglas-Roberts explained his comments to ESPN and the New York Daily News while Mendendall released a blog explaining his stance, which was misguided at best.

The positive in this situation is that athletes, even the younger ones, are beginning to speak out and notice the world around them besides material goods, women and music. The negative is that sometimes athletes, especially those who don't follow news closely, can give misinformed opinions and therefore face great criticism.

We have seen a generation of athletes pass on having any political opinions that may affect sneaker sales or their marketing image. Athletes who could have great influence on the thinking and the education of their fans have passed for fear making any waves, although some of those won't hesitate to drive while drinking or get caught with marijuana. It's about time our athletes stop being so concerned about their image, but by using the forum of Twitter or blogs comes the responsibility of being educated on the subjects you choose to broach.

That's the challenge for athletes, to enlighten themselves on issues outside of sports. We ask our athletes to be more well rounded, make a statement, offer a thought on their community and when they do, we tend to criticize them because of that opinion. As long as that opinion is concise, knowledgeable and sincere, we can't criticize the effort. We can only choose to agree or disagree.

That is the American way.

The problem with Newton is his father

What should be a memorable and satisfying season for Auburn football has been tainted by the sobering accusations that Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Cameron Newton may have passed on attending Mississippi State because the school did not offer money requested by his father, Cecil, who has not exactly denied those claims.

Newton played last Saturday and was stellar in a 49-31 victory over the University of Georgia, passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He is one of the most dominant college quarterbacks in recent years but his father's greed may hinder a great career, just as it did with former USC running back Reggie Bush.

Kids coming out of junior college suddenly don't decide to ask for money to play. They get that idea from somewhere and in this situation, it was Newton's father who decided he was going risk his son's reputation by cashing in on his talents. It's not as if Cameron won't make enough money in the National Football League, he decided a college scholarship wasn't enough. He needed to be paid right now.

And his desire for indulgence could cost his son his reputation and Auburn University football wins. What gives him the right to do that? The parent is not on the football field taking those hits. And he is trying to rob his son's opportunity at a basic and enjoyable college life. He is on scholarship, which means he will live in nice quarters, won't be short of a meal and will have his books and tuition handled. In addition, he is probably the most identifiable Auburn athlete since Bo Jackson or Charles Barkley. And he singlehandedly resurrected a football program that had been reduced to the stepchild of in-state rival Alabama.

Auburn football is significant again, and Newton in the nucleus of that revival, but now it could all be destroyed by a headstrong father who believed he was intelligent enough to circumvent the system. He apparently hired a "representative," who contacted interested schools and said it would require more than a scholarship to attract his son.

Really? Did Cameron actually say that or was this the case of a money-hungry father looking to be compensated, perhaps to clear up a couple of debts while his son pays all the physical dues. Hopefully this is a case of a father perhaps associating with some seedy people who have decided to cause a stir with some exaggerations. Regardless, there is smoke to this fire and Cecil Newton is guilty of poor judgment if anything else.

The question why do parents anoint themselves responsible for capitalizing off their children's success? Instead of sporting a fresh Auburn baseball cap, sitting with the other parents and basking in pride, Cecil Newton tried to sell his son to the highest bidder, sacrificing his son's character and reputation in the process.

The money will be there eventually for Cameron Newton, but unfortunately his own father tried to jeopardize the two luxuries that all of us wish we still had, youth and innocence. Thanks Dad.