The Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder could emerge quietly as serious contenders for Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo. Sean Deveney of Sporting News believes both teams are dark horses to land Rondo in a trade this season.
It's a foregone conclusion Boston will trade Rondo before the February deadline. Celtics president Danny Ainge is unlikely to risk letting Rondo walk for nothing as a free agent in July, and with Rondo's heir apparent - No. 6 pick Marcus Smart - waiting in the wings, Ainge appears to be just waiting for the right offer to move the veteran.
Rondo will have a bevy of suitors if he makes it to free agency. A number of those suitors, including the New York Knicks, however, don't have the assets to make a trade for Rondo this season. If Ainge does move Rondo midseason, as expected, two teams likely to be on the phone with Ainge are the Rockets and the Thunder.
"Houston is certainly one," Deveney told CelticsBlog.com on Friday. "But I would keep an eye on teams willing to make sign-and-trades, and willing to play point guards together."
After departing with Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, the Rockets no longer have a treasure chest of assets to offer Ainge. Given a sign-and-trade for Rondo is the most likely trade scenario for him, Deveney speculated Oklahoma City could make an unexpected play for the point guard.
"The Thunder could be one to watch," said Deveney. "They have pieces to shed in a sign-and-trade, and a Russell Westbrook-Rondo backcourt would be fascinating. Might not work financially, but it's a possibility."
Oklahoma would have to do a lot of shuffling to make the finances work, but they could press hard for a Rondo trade if they feel losing superstar Kevin Durant is inevitable.
Deveney also mentioned the Dallas Mavericks as a likely suitor.
