Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge isn't shopping Rajon Rondo, but he did admit no player is indispensable. The Washington Wizards, meanwhile, are reportedly pursuing a trade for Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe.
Ainge reiterated on Thursday the Celtics have no plans to trade Rondo. Although he stopped short of saying Rondo was indispensable, Ainge did point to the contract extension he offered to Rondo as evidence the team wants to keep the All-Star in Boston.
Rondo declined the extension, which Ainge expected - under the current CBA, Rondo can make more money by becoming a free agent and then re-signing. Still, Ainge refused to label Rondo as indispensable to the Celtics.
"Nobody is 'the future of the franchise,'" Ainge told the Boston Globe on Thursday. "A franchise is bigger than any one individual. But we love him. That's what [the extension offer] explains. ... [Rondo is] obviously a very important part of our team and has been for years."
Ainge also stopped short of saying the Celtics would "build around" Rondo.
"I don't like saying that, whether it's Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen. And those guys are multiple-time All-Stars," said Ainge. "I just don't like 'building around' something."
While Rondo may not be on the trade block, Monroe reportedly is.
"One player who has been mentioned in trade rumors throughout this season is Greg Monroe, the young power forward who will be a restricted free agent this offseason since he couldn't agree on an extension with the Pistons," Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com wrote on Monday. "...It's possible that Detroit moves the valuable Monroe to upgrade another position and slide (Josh) Smith over to power forward.
"One team that is interested in Monroe is the Washington Wizards, according to multiple league sources. It's becoming clear that Washington is planning to pursue (Monroe), either through trade or free agency."
Monroe seemingly became expendable after the pairing of Monroe and Smith, Detroit's big free agent signing, failed to produce wins. Detroit (17-25) has lost all but three of their last 12 games.
