One minute Rajon Rondo is very available for trades. The next minute he is being called the building block of the rebuilding Boston Celtics. No one many know just how tradable Rondo is until Danny Ainge pulls the trigger on a move this offseason. Expected to test the market in free agency 2015, the Celtics may be fearing they could lose the star point guard for nothing in return. Assuming Rondo is available at the right price, who is interested?
Several NBA "sources" have a difference in opinions regarding the future of Rondo. According to Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, the trade rumors surrounding the point guard are mere speculation and it is too early to tell just how available Rondo is. However, according to Celtics' beat writer Steve Bulpett, Rondo is more available than ever as Boston does not expect him to re-sign in free agency. Most teams are taking the approach that Rondo is available at the right price which is predicted to be very high.
The New York Knicks are hoping to be frontrunners to land the star. The Knicks do not have a draft pick they can offer unless they get a third team involved, but according to the New York Post, the team is looking to begin trade talks the second the offseason starts. It has already been reported that Phil Jackson has informed point guard Raymond Felton that he will be traded in the offseason. Felton does not have nearly enough value to do a simple player swap so the Knicks will have to get creative. Adding in a big man like Tyson Chandler and possibly a young asset like Tim Hardaway Jr. could make the deal worth Boston's time.
Another team that will make a run at the point guard is the Houston Rockets. The team is willing to do anything to get rid of Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin with their inflated contracts. Rondo is viewed as the perfect fit for the team and the trade would actually be worth it for Boston. They get their needed big man in Asik and a capable point guard in Lin. The question is whether or not Lin can return to being a starter. He found a lot of success coming off the bench this season, but would need to be the go-to guy in Boston.
Any team trading for Rondo likely has to be ready to offer him a contract extension in the offseason. Boston is not going to ask for Rondo's approval for a deal, but the point guard will be seeking for some security for the future. That could eliminate the Knicks from contention but keep the Rockets around.
