Boston Celtics and the Sacramento Kings reportedly never discussed a trade involving star Rajon Rondo. Although Sacramento may not be pursuing Rondo, Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com reports the All-Star point guard being dealt before the February trade deadline is "inevitable."
Sacramento has been consistently mentioned as a potential landing spot for Rondo, with names such as Ben McLemore and Derrick Williams being floated around as possible pieces to the trade. Kyler's latest report, though, dismissed the rumblings as nothing more than gossip.
"Text messages from both sides of this adamantly denied a Rondo to Kings deal was on the table or under consideration," Kyler tweeted Monday.
Celtics president Danny Ainge has long said Rondo isn't being shopped, but the team's failure to acquire Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love may have changed that. At least one report claimed Ainge would deal Rondo if Boston were unable to bring in Love, who purportedly is being dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers on either Aug. 23 or Aug. 24.
Kyler also believes Boston will trade Rondo, calling the move "inevitable" if Ainge isn't 100 percent sure Rondo will re-sign with Boston next summer when his contract expires.
"If the Celtics cannot get a sense of commitment from Rondo beyond this year, they have to trade him or risk losing him for nothing in return," Kyler wrote Thursday. "... It seems inevitable that Rondo is going to be traded, the question is what's the return going to be for Boston, especially when it's more likely than not that Rondo explores his options in July (when he can become an unrestricted free agent)?"
Rondo isn't short of suitors, but not many teams have the assets Ainge would likely demand in a trade. Interested teams purportedly include the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets, both of which don't have much to offer for him.
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