I started bracing for the Rajon Rondo trade talk the moment we learned the Celtics had the No. 6 pick. John and I discussed it during last night’s Celtics Stuff Live podcast.
I think the scenarios are easy to grasp:
1. If the Celtics acquire Kevin Love (or another TBD superstar), then Rondo stays.
2. If the Celtics are forced to draft a player at No. 6 and tread water for another season, then Rondo will be shopped.
Despite Rondo’s desire to stay in Boston, I don’t think he’ll want to ride out the next 3-4 years as Ainge shapes the roster into a legit playoff contender. If he wants to stay, then I’d love to keep him. Again, it’s hard to take a definitive stance on a Rondo deal when you don’t know what’s coming back in return.
I’m not surprised that the usual suspects starting barking about Rondo:
No question that it’s worth exploring. RT @Gary_Tanguay: Time to trade Rondo and #6. @CSNEarlyEdition
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) May 21, 2014
But I am surprised at the stance taken by the MWDN’s Scott Souza:
But if that package is not enough, and another team wins the Love sweepstakes, Ainge must now consider the alternative. That would be moving a player in Rondo with one year left on his contract, and who has shown the ability to make very good teams great, but little ability to make a developing roster better.
The Celtics were just 6-24 with Rondo in the starting lineup last year — while they were 6-5 with undrafted rookie Phil Pressey in the lineup — and were also worse during the 2012-13 season when Rondo played than when he was injured or suspended.
The ole “this team is better without Rondo” theory? C’mon, Scott. I expect that from the Felgers and Masserottis of the world, but not you.
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