It’s been a while since we’ve come across a Rajon Rondo trade rumor. Here’s a report involving the Knicks and blatant speculation about the Rockets:
Iman Shumpert had a second left knee operation over the summer, the Daily News has learned and it is unclear if the unreported surgery could impact his trade value with the desperate Knicks trying to package Shumpert in a number of proposed deals including one for Boston’s Rajon Rondo.
…
Of course, the Knicks primary target is Rondo, Boston’s All Star point guard who is currently recovering from knee surgery. The Knicks have been trying to trade Shumpert, Raymond Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire in a complicated deal for Rondo but the rebuilding Celtics has yet to show much interest.
Unless the Celtics are blown away with an offer it’s hard to imagine Celtics GM Danny Ainge trading his best player, Rondo, to the rival Knicks. When Isiah Thomas was in charge of the Knicks he tried for months to acquire Kevin Garnett from Minnesota only to have then Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale trade Garnett to Ainge, McHale’s former Celtics teammate.
A similar scenario could unfold in the coming weeks and months with the Rockets amenable to trading unhappy back-up center Omer Asik. Houston could enhance its championship credentials by adding Rondo to a lineup that includes Dwight Howard, James Harden and Chandler Parsons. In return, the Celtics may have interest in both the 7-foot Asik and Jeremy Lin, the point guard and Harvard graduate. McHale is now Houston’s head coach and Rockets GM Daryl Morey started his career in the Celtics front office.
Shumpert impressed the hell out of me with his defense in last year’s playoff series, but I’m not overly excited about trading for a guy who needed secret knee surgery.
This proposed deal with New York gives me shivers. Why?
- Rajon Rondo is the best player in this report and it’s not even close
- Acquiring Shumpert means Avery Bradley would have to go
- I don’t trust Raymond Felton to stay off the Twinkies
- Amar’e Stoudemire is due $23 million next season
- I despise the Knicks
Any deal involving Amar’e would require the Knicks take back Gerald Wallace and other less desirable contracts (Brandon Bass?). Kris Humphries is the obvious choice, but he has too much value as an expiring contract.
The speculation about Houston holds my interest because it involves Asik – a young 7-footer who is an elite defender and rebounder. I hated the whole “Linsanity” hype but the kid is averaging 18 ppg on 52% shooting this season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
