With Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo expected to return on Friday, the Celtics are reportedly close to trading guard Jordan Crawford. Teams reported to be interested in acquiring Crawford include the Brooklyn Nets, the Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns.
UPDATE (12:30 p.m. ET): ESPN reports a three-team trade for Crawford involving the Celtics, the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat. Boston also announced Rondo will do a "brief assignment" in the NBA D-League.
Celtics send Jordan Crawford, Marshon Brooks to Warriors in 3-team deal. T. Douglas to Heat; J. Anthony, 2 picks to C's. (via @GoodmanESPN)
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 15, 2014
Long-time NBA reporter Peter Vecsey reported the impending trade early Wednesday morning.
"With Rondo about (to be) activated, Celtics are close (to) dealing Jordan Crawford," Vecsey tweeted. "BK, Clips, Suns, Rockets, Warriors are interested."
The validity of the report is, at best, uncertain. As NBC Sports points out, Vecsey "sometimes spreads nonsense."
Vecsey also indicated the Clippers were interested, but the offseason trade of Doc Rivers included an NBA-mandated clause prohibiting the Clippers and Celtics from exchanging players until after the 2013-14 season.
Trading Crawford also appears predicated on Rondo actually returning on Friday. Neither the Celtics nor Rondo have announced an official return date, but a cryptic tweet posted on Monday by Rondo led to speculation the All-Star would make his season debut on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Crawford, who's flourished under Celtics coach Brad Stevens, is enjoying one of his best seasons with 13.7 points and 5.7 assists per game. Crawford is in the final year of his rookie contract and his performance this season could net the Celtics additional picks for the much-anticipated 2014 NBA draft.
Out of the teams Vecsey listed, the Nets and the Rockets seem the most logical suitors. Brooklyn's backcourt is questionable with the chronic ankle issues of star Deron Williams, or Crawford could be used to sweeten the deal for Houston in a trade for center Omer Asik, who Boston reportedly was close to trading for in December.
Still, Crawford has spent most of his career coming off the bench, and it's plausible Stevens may keep the three-year pro to bolster the backcourt depth and as insurance should Rondo suffer a similar fate this season as Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose.
