After seemingly losing the Kevin Love sweepstakes to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics reportedly now are open to trading guard Rajon Rondo. Among the interested teams are the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.
Yahoo Sports reported the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cavaliers agreed in principle Thursday to a deal that would send Love to Cleveland in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a future first-round draft pick.
With the Love sweepstakes seemingly over, Boston's next move may be accruing assets for the future by trading Rondo.
"If the Celtics cannot get Love," Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald wrote back on June 19, "they are planning to continue with the longer and more methodical rebuilding process, a process that would likely see Rajon Rondo traded. (An NBA source said they would also have taker for Jeff Green if they chose to move him.)"
Boston hoped to pair Love beside Rondo, but with that possibility no longer a reality, Celtics president Danny Ainge may look to move Rondo and acquire assets to start building for the future.
Rondo is entering the final year of his contract, which means Boston must soon decide whether they want him as the centerpiece of their franchise going forward.
At least one report indicated playing beside the mercurial point guard is a turnoff to free agents. If Ainge has any questions about Rondo, he would need to trade him now to maximize the value he gets back in return.
If Ainge doesn't trade Rondo, he risks either having to pay him a max-level contract or letting him walk for free as an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Fansided.com reported Phoenix as a possible suitor for Rondo. They have the assets, and their point guard position is somewhat in flux: despite having a number of 1-guards, incumbent starter Eric Bledsoe purportedly wants to be traded.
Houston and New York both have also been mentioned as suitors, but neither team has the assets likely required to pry Rondo from the Celtics.
Barring Ainge committing to Rondo in the form of a long-term contract, Rondo could control his future. Any team seeking a sign-and-trade for Rondo would want assurances he would sign a long-term deal with them. By denying those assurances to prospective teams, Rondo could playout the final year of his contract -- risking injury -- and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when he would be able to dictate his future.
If that happens, New York becomes a more likely option: Knicks president Phil Jackson will have a ton of salary cap space after this season to bring in reinforcements for Carmelo Anthony.
