Darvin Ham just interviewed for the Pelicans head coaching job, and if New Orleans actually hires him away from Milwaukee, the Bucks already have the perfect replacement sitting right there: Rajon Rondo.
According to recent reports, Ham and Rondo both interviewed for the Pelicans gig, which tells you everything about how both are viewed around the league right now. But if Ham leaves for a head coaching opportunity, maybe Rondo could step into that associate role and actually make Milwaukee better in the process.
Rajon Rondo could fill the void left by someone like Darvin Ham
Ham was a player's coach who connected with the locker room and brought energy to the staff. That's valuable, but all of the guys have talked about Rondo's impact on player development this season. Ryan Rollins went from G-League afterthought to M.I.P. candidate largely because of Rondo's coaching. That's the kind of tangible development work that matters way more than generic "players' coach" vibes.
Promoting Rondo makes sense on every level. He's already embedded with the team, players respect him, and he's shown he can actually teach point guard craft in ways that translate to real improvement. Rollins isn't the only guard who could benefit from extended time learning from Rondo.
The player development angle is crucial if Milwaukee's heading toward a rebuild. They need coaches who can actually develop young talent instead of just managing veteran egos. Rondo's work with guys like Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins has proven he can do that; Ham's proven he can connect with players but hasn't shown the same development results.
Rondo stepping into a bigger coaching role also gives Milwaukee continuity if there's organizational chaos this summer. He knows the system, knows the players, and wouldn't require a massive adjustment period. That stability matters when everything else is uncertain.
The associate head coach role specifically would give Rondo more influence over game planning and rotations, which is where his basketball IQ could really shine. He sees the game differently than most coaches because he played it at an elite level for so long. Let him translate that knowledge into actual coaching impact.
Ham leaving for a head coaching job would actually be addition by subtraction if it means Rondo gets promoted. Nothing against Ham personally, but Rondo has shown more tangible coaching impact in one season than Ham has in multiple years as an assistant.
Rajon Rondo is due for a promotion in Milwaukee if Darvin Ham leaves
Players would respond well to Rondo getting elevated, too. He's got instant credibility from his playing career, and guys have already talked publicly about how much his coaching has helped them. That buy-in is half the battle when you're trying to establish coaching authority.
The perfect scenario is that Ham gets the Pelicans job, Rondo slides into the associate role, and Milwaukee gets a coach who can actually develop their young core instead of just vibing with veterans. That's a net positive move that costs nothing except letting Ham leave for a better opportunity.
Rajon Rondo as associate head coach makes too much sense for Milwaukee to mess it up. But given their track record, they'll probably promote someone random instead and watch Rondo get hired away by a smarter organization.
The answer's already on the payroll. Time to use it before someone else does.
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