The Boston Celtics have been dealing with Rajon Rondo trade rumors for quite some time and now reports have the Sacramento Kings as an interested team, while the Houston Rockets also are a potential target if the team opts to move Rondo and this comes as he is in the final year of a five year extension and now Danny Ainge has to decide if drafting Marcus Smart will lead to a Rondo trade.
The Celtics have a big choice to make with Rondo, as he is heading towards free agency and if they do not sign him to an extension, chances are he will continue to come up in trade rumors. According to Pro Basketball Talk and Basketball Insiders, the recent rumors regarding Rondo going to the Sacramento Kings are not concrete and the two sides are not discussing a deal, although the Kings have been interested in Rondo for quite some time.
According to ESPN.com, the Rockets also could be a potential option for Rondo, as they are looking to add another star and this comes after they missed out on Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony this past offseason. The Rockets have long coveted Rondo, as they see him as an option to create a Big 3 with James Harden and Dwight Howard and he also serves as an upgrade over Patrick Beverley after they traded Jeremy Lin. The Kings and Rockets likely will remain options if Rondo is traded and the Celtics have a chance to get a nice package for him.
Rondo had a strong season after coming back from his ACL injury, as he was able to stay healthy for the 30 games he played and he made an impact on the floor. Rondo looked to be fully healed after the injury and he has the chance now to come back for a full season after dealing with that injury. Last year he averaged over 11 points and nearly 10 assists per game when he came back and he also added five rebounds per game, showing that his athleticism returned with him as well.
Rondo will continue coming up in trade rumors unless he is signed, as he is now in the final year of a five year extension he signed with the Celtics. Rondo likely will command a max deal if he hits the market and it could be for over $100 million depending on how things play out and while the Celtics want to keep him, there is a chance they will go hard into their rebuild and also trade him after moving Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce before last season.
Danny Ainge drafted Marcus Smart and while he said it had nothing to do with Rondo, it gives the team a solid backup option if they do trade him. Smart has a build like an NBA player and he previously played shooting guard and point guard while at Oklahoma State. Smart is a lottery talent and he likely would have been a top two or three pick had he come out a year earlier. The Celtics took advantage of the Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid consensus and they may get the most talented player of the top 10 picks in Smart.