Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge again dismissed trade rumors regarding Rajon Rondo by acknowledging the team had discussed a contract extension with the All-Star. Ainge, though, was uncertain if Rondo would sign the extension, CBS Sports reports.
Rondo is constantly the subject of trade rumors, but Ainge has insisted Rondo is an integral part of the Celtics' rebuild. Ainge further cemented Boston's stance on Thursday during a radio interview on "The Sports Hub" with Toucher and Rich.
"We did talk to Rondo about extending him," Ainge said, via CBS Sports. "But that's all part of the negotiation that will happen again this summer and most likely the summer after. I don't know [if he will sign as extension], time will tell."
Ainge added: "In the Collective Bargaining Agreement, there are limits on what can and can't be done. Really it's not that Rondo doesn't want to accept an extension, but it's just not financially smart for him to accept it right now. We didn't think he would [sign], but we did (try)."
Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, returned Friday and played for the first time since tearing his ACL last January. The Celtics' medical staff is, as a precaution, restricting Rondo's minutes on the court and not allowing him to play back-to-back games.
In the three contests he's played in, he averaged 5.0 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game.
"He does a lot out there on the court just to keep us organized. He's feeling his way and it's about what we expected," said Ainge. "There's an adjustment period coming back physically and getting over the mental hurdle of pushing himself through some tough situations."
Boston hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Rondo is expected to play.
