Yesterday, Rajon Rondo was getting traded. Today he is getting re-signed. Tomorrow he might be retiring. NBA offseason is approaching and ever since the Big 3 dismantled from the Boston Celtics, the point guard's future has been the center of the NBA talk. Danny Ainge has said multiple times that Rondo is the player the team intends to build around, but with an expiring contract time will tell just how true that is.
Some reports stress that certain trades for Rondo have come very close to getting finalized before one side backed out. Rondo is a free agent in 2015 and has stressed that he will opt out to test the market, but no option has been ruled out as far as where he will play. According to Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe, Rondo would like to re-sign with the Celtics if the team shows serious signs of improving.
"I love it here," Rondo said, via the Boston Globe. "I have a great neighbor, the best neighbor in the world. I don't want to leave. It's just part of the process that I'll talk about once the season's over. As of now I'm a Celtic. I've been training here, the staff has been doing pretty good as far as my rehab. I've been working every day. This is home for me as of now."
Ultimately the decision of a return rests more in the hands of Ainge than the point guard, but if the Celtics get the impression Rondo would sign a contract extension, they could opt to make a few deals this offseason in order to convince Rondo the roster is being built for success. The first step could be Kevin Love.
The forward was in Boston over the weekend to take in a Red Sox game amongst other things. While Rondo denies that he attempted to recruit Love to seek a trade over to the East, he did acknowledge just how much better the Celtics would be with Love.
"I think we'd be a lot better if you add a guy like Kevin," Rondo said. "He's a range-shooting 4, he's going to help on the glass -- obviously we haven't been the best on the glass the past couple years. But he'll do a better job in that aspect. But this is all speculation. Nothing is happening, nothing is set in stone. So we could talk about Kevin all day, or we could mention Carmelo [Anthony's] name. Nothing's happened.
The Celtics have the No. 6 pick and according NSEN.com, they would be willing to trade that in a package for Love. Add in Jeff Green and someone like Jared Sulligner or Brandon Bass and the Celtics could have themselves a deal. If Love is acquired, does Rondo stay?
