This is the dilemma with a Rondo-centric team. A dilemma that has been discuss ad nauseam of late.
SVG is correct. 100%. His quote is right-on.
Now, onto a fan's quote:
I think if the Celtics can get this scorer along side Rondo...
Herein lies a problem. In late game situations the ball needs to be in the hands of the scorer, not Rondo, and Rondo is ineffective off-the-ball. Rondo is not a good spot-up shooter and he is a horrible 3-pt shooter. He's also below-average at the free throw line, so he can become a liability in numerous ways in certain situations. Instead of spacing the floor, he actually helps the defense shrink it. What fan gets excited to see Rondo dribbling the ball at the 3-pt line as the clock winds down? It's nauseating to watch. Unless he drives and gets clean to the bucket, it's a wasted possession. God forbid he gets fouled and has to hit free throws to win the game.
A franchise player cannot be someone who potentially hurts your team at end-of-game situations, such as Dwight Howard or Rondo (just to name two). Coaches actively keep the ball out of these players' hands. That says something. That says they're not franchise players.
Paul Pierce's turnovers notwithstanding, he IS a franchise player. He's not the caliber of scorer that Bryant, Jordan, or Durant are, but he's the guy with the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. He is the guy who will win or lose you the game. Myself and Doc Rivers are comfortable with this.
I would argue that Boston actually currently has TWO franchise players - The Truth and KG - and each of them bring something different to the table, but together they are the Celtics. [This is partially due to their age. When they were younger, they were each full-time franchise players!]
Rondo can be exhilarating and he will sell tickets, but if anyone ever signs him to a max contract they'll regret it. Ainge knew this early on, which is why Rondo's current "under-market" contract is brilliant.
p.s. Oscar and Magic were franchise players. Stockton and Malone were in the class that Pierce and KG are - they shared franchise player responsibilities. Nash tried to be a franchise player alone (didn't work) and tried to split duties with A'mare (didn't work). Kidd was never a franchise player; he was a solid piece.
p.p.s. I would argue that PG and C are the most unlikely positions for a franchise player. There have been a few PGs - Oscar, Magic, Isiah, and a few Cs (of late) - Hakeem, Shaq, but overall they're positions are limited. A shoot-first scoring PG can alienate his team during the other 47 minutes of the game and a C always needs to be given the ball in the proper position (they can rarely create their own shots).
p.p.p.s. Bill Russell played in a different era, so you cannot use him in a comparison to the modern game.