The Rajon Rondo Conundrum

As the rumors and speculation continue to swirl, will Rajon Rondo remain in Boston, or will the rebuilding Celtics trade their franchise player?

Recently, Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck called out his franchise player, point guard Rajon Rondo, citing his uncertainty about the player’s coachability. To add injury to insult, Rondo recently suffered a broken hand that will sideline him six to eight weeks. According to Rondo, he hit his hand on a wall after falling out of the shower.

The latest series of events regarding Rondo are just two of the many stories regarding his mysterious future with the team. President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge has asserted numerous times that he wants Rondo to stay in Boston, and Rondo reportedly feels the same way. However, the Celtics are deep in rebuilding mode, and I find it very hard to believe that Rondo, 28, will be around long enough for the team to complete the process.

Back when Kevin Love was still on the trading block, rumors began to surface that the star forward would be traded to the Celtics after he was spotted hanging out in Boston. However, all hope was lost when the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Andrew Wiggins and others to pair Love with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

Overall, the Celtics had a relatively quiet offseason. The team re-signed guard Avery Bradley, traded forward Kris Humphries to the Washington Wizards and signed guard/forward Evan Turner to a two-year, $6.7 million contract. That’s about it. Boston drafted guard Marcus Smart and forward James Young, adding to its young core that also includes center Kelly Olynyk and forward Jared Sullinger. Young draft picks aside, nothing points to a massive acquisition that would turn Boston into a contender this season.

It’s tough to gauge Rondo’s current trade value. He looked healthy last season after returning from a torn ACL and showed flashes of the old Rondo, but with a limited sample, teams will likely be hesitant to commit prized assets in any deal. Therein lies the Celtics’ dilemma. Teams won’t likely give them a ton, but Rondo is still considered a major talent and, if not traded, could choose to sign elsewhere next season. So why wait? The Celtics would be wise to deal the All-Star guard before his value dips any further. When healthy, Rondo is arguably the best point guard in the NBA. However, leadership and character concerns, as well as health issues, have stolen the spotlight.

There are numerous teams looking to add a premier point guard to their roster, including the Rockets, Knicks, Lakers and Kings. Although the Lakers acquired Jeremy Lin and the Kings signed Darren Collison, Rondo would be a tremendous upgrade over both point guards. The Celtics have a plethora of young prospects, but with Love now off the market, there isn’t a real star available for the Celtics to acquire in a deal. LaMarcus Aldridge, who will be a free agent next year, plans on remaining in Portland. Marc Gasol will also be available, but it’s tough to envision him leaving Memphis after the Grizzlies retained forward Zach Randolph. Lastly, let’s not forget that Rondo will be a free agent in 2015, giving the Celtics even more motivation to move him before he potentially walks away, leaving them with nothing.

Ultimately, Ainge and Celtics brass will decide that the best way to move forward is to trade Rondo. The team is loaded with raw talent and Smart is a guard with potential to become an elite NBA point guard. Rondo is worth at least one lottery pick right now and Boston would be wise to prepare a deal before his value decreases. This team is still two or three years away from competing, and by that time, Rondo’s prime years will be behind him.

The Celtics should end the speculation. Trade Rondo, acquire young talent and proceed with the rebuild.