The 2013 NBA season is seven weeks old and so far there has been no sign of Rajon Rondo in anything but a suit while he sits on the bench. The Boston Celtics point guard continues to recover from a torn ACL that ended his previous season early. Much has changed with the Celtics since his injury. As trade rumors swirl around him, Rondo is setting the record straight on a few things.
Rondo's message to fans is simple, "I'm a Celtic right now." Right now, but maybe not later. The point guard's contract expires after the 2014-15 season and every team will be looking to get a hand on him then if not sooner. The first team setting their sights on Rondo is the New York Knicks.
Rondo's former high school coach Steve Smith told USA Today that Carmelo Anthony is already recruiting Rondo to play in New York. Of course that would mean Anthony re-signs with the Knicks, but apparently getting Rondo by way of free agency or trade is becoming a priority for the team. Anthony denied the idea saying that would be tampering and against NBA rules while Rondo dismissed all of that.
"People talk, media talk, people make up rumors, people run with them," Rondo said, via the Boston Globe. "That's about it. I haven't spoken to him. He ain't contacted me. It's just rumors. I'm a Celtic right now."
For now, the point guard is focused on recovery. The four-time All-Star is set for a visit to Dr. James Andrews to see where everything is at with his torn ligament, offering up no timetable of a return. Several sources in the Celtics front office report the team would like to see Rondo back by Christmas, but that appears to not be a realistic option.
"I've been anxious ever since I hurt myself," Rondo said. "It's a long process. Some days are better than others, but I'm patient and I'm not going to rush. I'm confident, but, like I said, I haven't practiced or anything so it's hard to say. [Games of] one-on-one [are] different from actually going through picks and hitting the floor, playing five-on-five, getting back in transition, making the quick moves without thinking about it. I haven't done any of that."
So for now, Rondo will remain on the bench, assisting the coaching staff and other players when he can. The point guard is happy with where the team is at right now even though most consider them an option to tank the year for draft picks. However, the team is sitting at the top of their division as multiple guys are scoring in double-digits each night.
"The way the team is playing now, it's hard to scout our team because it's not just one guy doing all the scoring. It's a collective effort, a group of guys and five or six guys in double figures each night. It's hard to stop a team," Rondo said.
