I think Franchise > Franchise Player in this case.
If the difference between Rondo and Irving is +10, then adding Varejao would make that value sink down to -100. -105 if you don't like Lee/Bass.
At this point, I wouldn't trade Rondo for Irving straight up, but I Varejao makes it too enticing to refuse.
That's a pretty arbitrary numbering system, and one that I quite disagree with. There is no way that Varejao adds 10 times what Rondo brings over Irving.
- Rondo is much better than Irving, at least at this point in their respective careers.
- I think you are over-valuing Varejao. Especially when we could get someone to do what he does without giving up Rondo. See Omer Asik on the Rockets.
I don't mean literally those numbers, but I was making a point that Varejao is a very good player. I'm probably overvaluing him, but there is no question that he is a competent, pure center, something the Celtics would love to get. He is one of, if not the, quickest centers in the NBA and will be great in our defensive system. And also, unlike Asik, he's not a liability on offense, but an asset.
Rondo is not MUCH better than Irving the same way that Rondo is not MUCH better than Derrick Rose.
Rondo is the best point guard in the NBA, but Irving is in that highest echelon along with Chris Paul, etc (at least this season). He's in that elite class this season, and the youngest prodigy of them all. So much potential.