The Boston Celtics have been mentioned in rumors about a Rajon Rondo trade for over a year and now reports have the team and the point guard dismissing any notion of a deal going down soon, as they would like to start the season together and see how things go, but if a deadline deal happens, teams like the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, LA Lakers, NY Knicks and Detroit Pistons potentially could be interested after the Celtics drafted Marcus Smart.
Reports came out earlier this summer that the Sacramento Kings and Celtics were discussing a deal for Rondo, but both sides came out to dismiss those rumors. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Celtics are not currently looking for a deal with Rondo and the two sides both want to start this season with the point guard in Boston before assessing things as the year plays out. Rondo is set to be a free agent and he is coming off of major surgery at the same time that the team is rebuilding and all those factors are leading up to Rondo staying with Boston for now, not getting traded and not signing an extension.
Rondo and the Celtics want to start the season together, according to reports, but there is a good chance that Rondo could get traded at some point, especially if the team is not very good this year. The Celtics want to see if Rondo can stay healthy and he is looking to get to free agency, so it's also possible a trade will be tough since he may not want to sign an extension. The Kings will be interested no matter what, while the Rockets also could jump in alongside the Lakers.
Los Angeles reportedly is interested in signing one or both of Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic next summer if the two make it to the market and that would likely take them out of the Rondo running. But there is a chance the team goes after Rondo and the Knicks also could be in the mix for a deal depending on how things turn out this season. The Knicks have Jose Calderon, but they could have some major money to spend in the coming free agency period and that could out them in the mix as well.
Rondo is coming into the season after playing in 30 games last year and he was very solid after coming back from his injury and now he has the chance to play out his contract. Rondo could command a ton of money on the market and he is entering the Kevin Love phase, as he is heading towards free agency and the team may have no choice but to trade him. The Celtics are rebuilding and they probably could get a nice package for Rondo, but if he doesn't; sign an extension with one of those teams, they may not want to make the deal.