The Boston Celtics may finally look at a Rajon Rondo trade this year, as teams like the NY Knicks, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings have all shown interest in the point guard as the trading deadline gets closer and with the point guard heading towards free agency, Danny Ainge may feel that he has no choice but to make a move and trade him.
The Celtics have long been mentioned in rumors regarding Rondo and for the most part Ainge has been consistent that the team was not actively looking to trade the point guard. Talks and deals have come up over the past couple years, including with the Kings, Rockets and Knicks in the past two seasons, but no deals have come close to happening. That could be changing now though, as media reports from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and Pro Basketball Talk have confirmed that the Celtics are at least strongly considering a trade with Rondo.
Rondo came back from ACL surgery last season and looked very good while playing in 30 games and he has been healthy for basically this entire season apart from a minor hand issue. Coming into the season, Marc Stein reported that the Celtics and Rondo were both interested in sticking together for at least the first half of the year, as the team wanted to see whether he was fully healthy or not. Rondo wanted to see where the Celtics were in the rebuilding process and the team also has some insurance in case they make a move, as they drafted Marcus Smart in the first round. Smart has played well to start the season and Brad Stevens has shown confidence in him running the offense from the point guard position.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports has been reporting on Rondo and trade options this year and he writes that the Dallas Mavericks are "serious" about a potential move with Boston. Mavericks center Brandan Wright and a first round pick along with other players likely would be part of the deal if it goes down and the Mavs are considered a "serious suitor" for the point guard. Woj also writes that the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and NY Knicks have all made calls to the Celtics on Rondo.
The Rockets have long been interested in Rondo, but the other Texas team is looking like the frontrunners right now, but that obviously could change as time moves along during the trade season. The Mavericks are vastly improved from last year and they have added Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons to the mix and bringing in Rondo could be huge. The Celtics are going to hold out for the best deal and Stein reports that teams like the Rockets, Knicks and Lakers also could make a push.
The Celtics are rebuilding and they also may consider trading Jeff Green, although the asking price for him is very high as well. Pro Basketball Talk reports that the team wants at least a first round pick for Green, which is steep for teams looking to make a deal. Green has the chance to be a free agent as well and teams likely will be weary of trading for him (or Rondo for that matter) if the player is going to leave as a free agent the next summer.