Trading Rajon Rondo might be more difficult for the Boston Celtics than originally thought. Basketball Insiders' Nate Duncan doesn't believe there's a team out there who's a great fit for the point guard, including the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings.
It's entirely up in the air where Rondo will be playing after the February trade deadline. Both Rondo and the Celtics organization have indicated they'd be amendable to staying together past this season, but that just as well could be a smokescreen. There's no question teams want to acquire Rondo, but very few - if any - would be willing to mortgage their future on a player who likely plans to test free agency in July.
While New York reportedly has wanted to bring Rondo to the Big Apple, Duncan believes Rondo wouldn't excel in Phil Jackson's triangle offense.
"He is just about as bad as it gets in the triangle, because he is best out of a one guard front handling the ball in a pick and roll, and because he can't shoot," Duncan wrote Tuesday.
Duncan said playing in Detroit would be a better option than New York, but Rondo's salary demands and the Pistons' cap situation in the summer make it iffy.
Multiple news outlets reported Sacramento as a team in pursuit of Rondo, and one report indicated the deal only stalled when Rondo wouldn't give his under-the-table assurance he would re-sign with the Kings after the season.
Duncan confirmed as much on Tuesday.
"Sacramento is another obvious place for him to land, but he has let it be known that he wouldn't stay there according to reports if he were traded," Duncan wrote. "So there really isn't the greatest fit."
At this point, unless Boston wants to trade Rondo on the cheap, it looks like the mercurial guard will finish out the season in a Celtics uniform.
