The Boston Celtics have trade options this season with Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green as main targets for teams and at the deadline Danny Ainge will get offers, as teams like the NY Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Lakers, Houston Rockets and others could be interested in Rondo or Green as they head towards free agency and depending on how the Celtics are playing, those deals could be considered.
Rondo is going to be the top player on the trade market no matter what happens and the Celtics will be looking to sign him back even if they do trade him this season. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Jeff Green also will have suitors in free agency and some in the NBA world think that he could be as much of a target as Rondo will be. Rondo will be an unrestricted free agent and Green also will be hitting the market most likely, as he has a $9.2 million option for next year.
The Celtics are rebuilding and where they are at the end of the season will likely dictate how they handle things in free agency with both players. Pro Basketball Talk also reports that the Celtics will be chasing Marc Gasol in free agency. The Knicks and the Lakers are also expected to chase and that could make for some interesting three way targets this summer with Rondo and Gasol between those teams.
Rondo came back last season after ACL surgery and looked very good over the final 30 games, averaging nearly a double-double in that time on points and assists. Over the final few weeks of the season Rondo did average a double-double and no matter what happens, he will be the most coveted free agent on the market. Kevin Love was once considered to be the top name that would be in free agency, but after his trade to the Cavaliers, it now has shifted to Rondo.
The Celtics wanted to see if Rondo could make it through the season healthy after dealing with ACL surgery last year and although he came back for 30 games last season, the team wanted to see more. Rondo also wanted to see things before making any major decisions, as he has the chance to re-up with the Celtics if he wants to, but he reportedly wanted to see where the rebuilding process has taken the team. The Celtics drafted Marcus Smart in the first round this season and depending on how things play out, he could be the point guard of the future.
Even if Rondo is not traded this season, he will be a prime free agent target and teams with money like the Lakers, Knicks, Rockets and Celtics all will be chasing him. The Celtics have the inside track since they can start talking to him early, but the Knicks and Lakers are both expected to have a ton of cap space and could make offers that are very enticing. Rondo will have to weigh the money along with what the Celtics are doing in their rebuilding process this season.