The Boston Celtics are heading into an NBA season they know will be tough after trading away superstar players Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and despite that, the team has some hope with point guard Rajon Rondo, but there is a chance he won't be ready for the regular season when the NBA schedule tips off.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, CSN New England is reporting that Rondo likely will not be ready for the start of the season after coming off of serious ACL surgery. The report says that since there is no timetable for his return, despite the team saying that he will be ready to open the year, head coach Brady Stevens gave no update on the timetable for him to get back on the court and that could mean that he will be out for all of the preseason and possibly the first few weeks of the regular season.
Rondo has been the focus of trade rumors and speculation all offseason for the Celtics, as the team is heading into a rebuilding phase and with a player like Rondo, many think the front office will try to deal him for more youth and possibly draft picks. Reports came out over the summer that Joe Dumars wanted to acquire him, but after the Pistons traded for Brandon Jennings, that appears to be no longer an option for either side.
Rondo was injured last year right as the calendar was about to change to February and he has been out since January 28 after tearing his ACL and getting surgery. Rondo has been rehabbing all offseason and the Celtics thought that he could be fully healthy by the time the season started, but now with games less than a month away and the regular season coming after that, there is a good chance he will be sidelined for a bit. One reason the Celtics may not be rushing him back is due to the talent level of the team, as everyone knows it is a rebuild now that Pierce and Garnett are gone, so they want to make sure their best player is fully back to health.
The team has Avery Bradley as a solid backup, which could be another reason why they are comfortable without him starting the season and they are hoping that it doesn't linger too long into the schedule. Rondo was averaging a double-double in points and assists when he was injured and now he is by far the best player on the roster for Danny Ainge.
New head coach Brad Stevens will do his best with the team this season, but after trading Garnett and Pierce is could be tough to get things going. Last year the Celtic's went 41-40 and lost to the Knicks in the playoffs and after ranking 18th in points scored, things could be tougher without the two stars and head coach Doc Rivers and it is also likely that the defensive side of the ball will suffer as well. The team ranked 12th in points allowed last season and 29th in rebounding and that will be one area that Stevens needs to focus on this season.