Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo reportedly wants to stay in Boston, and the Celtics want to keep him in green - unless a team is willing to trade two unprotected first-round draft picks for the All-Star.
Rondo has always been the subject of trade rumors, but it's become increasingly clear both he and the Celtics management want to stay together long-term.
"It really is the same thing, teams call about him but the Celtics want him and he wants to be the leader of that team," one source told Sporting News. "It has always been his intention to establish himself in that role, to be part of the rebuilding and to stay in Boston for a long time. Nothing has changed."
While Celtics president Danny Ainge has said Rondo is an integral part of the team's rebuild, Ainge also hasn't declared him indispensible. Boston would reportedly part with Rondo for the right price - a very high, right price.
One report, per Sam Smith of Bulls.com, indicates the "right price" for Rondo is two unprotected first-round draft picks. A Yahoo Sports report indicates the price is even higher after Boston reportedly rejected the Sacramento Kings' offer of two first-round picks and rookie Ben McLemore.
"Teams call and ask (about Rondo), the Celtics give an idea of what it will take to make a deal happen, and the conversation ends there," Sean Deveney of Sporting News wrote on Tuesday.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
