Rajon Rondo will be available for trading until he signs a new contract with either the Boston Celtics or elsewhere. The point guard cannot escape the rumors with free agency just around the corner. Being on a rebuilding team only makes it worse. At this point, no one would be shocked if Rondo was sent packing, no matter what Danny Ainge says.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, if the Boston Celtics intend to trade Rondo, it will be on draft day. The NBA Draft comes at the end of June and the Celtics would ideally like to acquire as many draft picks as possible. Rondo trade reports have been popping up for the better part of the year and the Celtics have yet to make a move, but with the draft getting closer, the time is now to deal the point guard if that is what they truly intend. The Celtics still have no identity since the roster overhaul that took place last offseason and getting more players in the draft might be the way to rectify that.
So who could make a deal for Rondo? The Houston Rockets would like to be involved. Right now, Houston is trying to acquire one more marquee scorer to cap off what they hope will be a championship roster. They have been linked to both Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony, but Rondo might be the easier get. The Rockets would likely offer up a draft pick if not two along with Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik. Houston has been desperate to get rid of both players and this would be the perfect opportunity. The Celtics get a strong big man and Lin who is a capable starter as well.
The Los Angeles Lakers could attempt to make a deal. The issue is that the Lakers have the draft pick to offer, but they lack to assets to win the Celtics over. The team could try and send them Steve Nash, but that is not very profitable for the Celtics other than he is on an expiring contract. The Lakers have been eyeing point guard free agents and a trade could be the way the decide to go.
The lingering issue with Rondo is that he is the piece that will land Boston Kevin Love. According to NBA Insider Chuck Myron of Hoop Rumors, Love would ideally like to play with Rondo in Boston. So if the Celtics feel they can land the forward by sending a draft pick and players like Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger, they will.
