The Boston Celtics and Rajon Rondo will be mentioned in trade rumors this season with Rondo heading towards free agency and teams like the Lakers, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings all could be interested in making a move, while the Celtics are hoping to keep Rondo while targeting Marc Gasol as a free agent next summer.
Rondo comes into the season in the final year of a five year contract extension that he signed when the Celtics were perennial winners and he is set to hit the market in his prime. Rondo is coming off of a serious injury and that could affect how teams go after him, but if he can make it through the season without another injury (on top of his broken hand) teams will be lining up for him. According to Pro Basketball Talk, while the Celtics realize that Rondo is a major trade target, the team is hoping to lock him up with a long term deal while also adding another player like Gasol to the mix.
Rondo and the Celtics are both pleased to start the season without a deal, as there were rumors over the summer that the Kings and other teams were interested in a trade. Danny Ainge has remained consistent publically about Rondo, but it's likely that he is going to get mentioned in deals no matter what happens. The Celtics want to see if Rondo can make it through the season healthy before signing him to a big deal, while Rondo also has his reasons for coming into the season like this.
Rondo knows he can make more money once he hits the free agent market, even from the Celtics and he also wants to see if he can stay healthy and how far along the team is in their rebuilding. The team has Rondo and just drafted Marcus Smart and he joins a group of solid young players that Ainge and Brad Stevens are building around. Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Celtics will be players in free agency and that Gasol could be a target with the cap space they have.
Rondo comes in after playing in 30 games last season and he is dealing with a broken hand that he suffered last month and now he could miss the start of the season. Rondo said he could return in time for the start of the season, but the Celtics have a backup option with Marcus Smart. Many have thought that the Celtics could trade Rondo because of the presence of Smart, but the team likely will hold onto him until at least the trade deadline before making any moves.
The Celtics are in the middle of a big rebuild and Rondo is the last major holdover from the championship team with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Rondo is going to be the new Kevin Love, meaning he is heading into free agency and will be the top trade target for teams. The Houston Rockets have long wanted Rondo, as have the NY Knicks. Last season Rondo finishes strong while averaging a double-double of 12 points and 11 assists in his last 20 games and he is hoping to get off to a fast start this season once he returns.