The Boston Celtics have been one of the major teams looking to make moves this summer and a trade for Rajon Rondo could be in the cards if the team misses out on the Kevin Love deal, as names like Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger, Avery Bradley and Kris Humphries could be traded at the draft for the right to pick Joel Embiid if he slips due to his foot injury.
Last season the Celtics went 25-57 and they now have the number six pick in the draft and could use that on someone like Aaron Gordon or they could spin it for a trade. According to SI.com, the team is looking at Gordon with their pick if they do not trade it and they may also trade Rajon Rondo if the team cannot pull off the Kevin Love trade. The team is in the mix because of the first round picks they possess and the Timberwolves are looking for that in the Kevin Love deal.
The Celtics have assets to move, as Sullinger and Jeff Green are solid options and teams like the Houston Rockets or Cavaliers could be partners. The Celtics have to decide who they want to be, as they are rebuilding but they also have Rondo and a top draft pick and they could use that to run around the team faster for Brad Stevens. The draft this year has a number of talented players and everyone is calling this the best draft in years and that means the Celtics could end up with a very good prospect if they keep the pick.
The Celtics and every other team in the top 10 has been connected to trades involving their picks and Boston likely will not move the pick unless it's for Kevin Love or if Gordon is taken before the pick. The report says that the Celtics are enamored with his skills and size and that they feel the Arizona freshman could be a franchise player for GM Danny Ainge.
The team is still looking to lock up Rajon Rondo with a long term deal and if they sit tight and draft Gordon, they would have put together a solid young crop of talent over the past two seasons. Gordon is just 19 years old and that youth could be big for the Celtics and with players like Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins ahead of him, Gordon could slip out of the top five and into the Celtics hands.
The Celtics have been mentioned quite a bit in trade rumors this offseason centering around Rondo and Jeff Green and while so far no traction has been made, other teams like the Houston Rockets, NY Knicks and Lakers have shown interest in Rondo. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Celtics like Aaron Gordon with the number six pick and the team ended up in a solid spot in the lottery after the Cavaliers jumped ahead and screwed everyone by getting the top pick for the second straight season.
