With the Boston Celtics still in the middle of a rebuilding process and Rajon Rondo in his prime, many are speculating that a trade is bound to happen. In a behind-the-scenes video clip of ESPN's "Around the Horn," Jackie MacMullan revealed that Rondo already wants out and has informed the Celtics that he won't be signing any contract extension offer from the team once he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
When the topic of trading Rondo was raised, MacMullan had this to say according to CBS Sports, "Oh, I hope so. Just get it done. And it will happen because he's told them he wants out. And no one believes me, but that's the truth."
Rondo's camp, however, immediately denied the rumors, according to a tweet by Mark Murphy of Boston Herald. But this behavior has been noted as a standard protocol in the NBA - every time a rumor leaks, the agent always denies it whether there is some truth to it or not. And as expected, Celtics President Danny Ainge also denied a report from Boston Herald that the Celtics are trying to trade Rondo this offseason. But aside from Ainge and Rondo's agents, almost everyone is proclaiming that the Celtics star point guard won't be around with Boston much longer.
A couple of weeks ago, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported that the New York Knicks turned down a trade for Rondo and reports are indicating that the Celtics are discretely shopping their star point guard this summer. Is it because Rondo doesn't want any part of the Celtics rebuilding process and won't be signing a long term extension with the team next summer that's why the Celtics would trade him for the right assets?
Trisity Miller of Fansided thinks that its one angle that may possible. He wrote, "Rondo may not want to partake in the current rebuild with Boston. In the last few years, all key parts of the 2008 championship team have abandoned the point guard-Ray Allen to Miami, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn, Doc Rivers to Los Angeles-leaving him amidst Danny Ainge's rebuild. The future looks bright for this franchise as Ainge has compiled an abundance of picks as well as drafted Marcus Smart 6th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, but Rondo may be past this situation at this point."
James Herbert of CBS Sports believes that unless the Celtics receive an incredible offer for Rondo, they would simply be happy to have him around for the coming season. But a 28-year old four-time All-Star like Rondo is not just a logical fit for a rebuilding team like Boston. Perhaps the Celtics are simply waiting for the right deal for Rondo before they pull the trigger on a trade? If Macmullan's statements, along with the other Rondo trade rumors, are indeed true, then a trade for Rondo is surely bound to happen this summer or in the coming season before the trade deadline.
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