Thursday, March 1st, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  131 responses

Report: Celtics ‘Aggressively’ Shopping Rajon Rondo


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Rajon Rondo is reportedly on the trading block once again. In related news, the sun rose in the East this morning.

With trade rumors swirling, Rondo led the Boston Celtics to victory last night, while recording a triple double along the way (his third of the season.)

According to ESPN, the C’s front-office no longer wants Rajon largely because of his off-the-court attitude:

The Celtics find Rondo’s personality to be too high-maintenance and his clashes with coach Doc Rivers remain an off-court distraction, sources said, and the front office is now actively pitching him to other teams. With the Celtics realizing they are no longer title contenders, they don’t believe his point guard prowess is worth the headaches Rondo brings, sources say. And they do not want to build around him.

In December, the Celtics had discussions with Golden State about a Stephen Curry-for-Rondo deal, and one source says it was Golden State that decided against pulling the trigger. But Curry’s recent ankle injuries, which have caused him several problems in his short career, have given the Celtics pause. The potential trade is still being discussed by Boston’s braintrust, but they aren’t sure they want to go forward with it. It also isn’t clear whether the Warriors would be willing to do it. Other players would have to be thrown in to make it work financially.

Danny Ainge acknowledged earlier this season that Rondo’s name came up in trade talks when the Celtics tried to acquire Chris Paul from the Hornets, but he said he wasn’t shopping Rondo per se and that his name came up only because Ainge was trying to add a player of Paul’s caliber. “I was not trying to trade Rajon Rondo,” Ainge told Boston sports radio WEEI in January. “There’s a big difference between trying to acquire a player and trying to trade a player.” If the Celtics are now actively shopping Rondo, it would seem to be a change of course.

GM Danny Ainge has been very upfront about wanting to shake things up, and these trade rumors only add fuel to the rampant speculation that this is the current team’s last run together.

The Boston Celtics climbed back up to .500 with their win over the Milwaukee Bucks last night, and Rajon Rondo was the catalyst. He’s also, apparently, no longer wanted. What a strange, depressing season this has been so far in Beantown.

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  • Justin G.

    I like this actually. Finally a team backing it’s coach in disputes with their players when normally it would be the coach to go. Nice work Ainge

  • AD

    rondo should go to the mavs

  • Bt

    A point guard is always going to have disagreements with a coach who played the point, I think they’re exaggerating them to validate any trade

  • http://www.slamonline.com aman from arkansas

    Jazz Receive: Rajon Rondo
    Celtics Receive: Al Jefferson, Devin Harris, and a first round pick

  • Omar

    So you’re going to trade the one piece you have to start rebuilding. Good luck with that.

  • Danno

    Can we please trade Danny Ainge?

  • Justin G.

    Yeah, trade Ainge. You definitely want to get rid of the guy that made the trades to bring you a championship in the first place. smh

  • Justin G.

    Let’s fire Doc Rivers too. He obviously doesn’t konw how to handle point guards. *rolls eyes*

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    anyways I’d love to see Rondo in a place where he is given the respect as a true franchise player….watch his game flourish.

  • http://nba.com/celtics lights out

    someone needs to do for Rondo what Kobe did for Pau.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Rondo isn’t a franchise player…he’s very very good, but not a franchise guy.

  • http://nba.com GP23

    The Celtics would be fools if they trade Rondo.

  • Paul H

    @Wayno, I would agree with that, but I would say the Celtics would be better served holding to him unless they can get quality back. Watch that quick trigger finger Danny. No trade Is better than a bad one.

  • Heals

    I think it’d be easier to get the young man a Snickers for the diva routine, than equal value in a trade…

  • Kyle in VA

    Rondo definitely is a unique guy. His strange personality should be celebrated, not the reason he’s traded. While maybe not a franchise guy yet (his lack of a shooting touch is the only thing holding him back), he is one of the premier young PGs in the L. Maybe he wouldn’t seem as abrasive if he had management get his back. But Danny Ainge seems hell-bent on blowing up the squad while moving its best piece first. As a fan, I see that KG and Ray still have value to a contender (Denver and Chi/okc respectively). Why not rebuild around Paul and Rajon? However this shakes out, I know I’ll be pissed at Danny Ainge.

  • http://www.borntocompete.com Money$hot

    There no loyalty in sports especially from the management side. Thats why I dont get upset when a player is unhappy with his situation that he wants to leave. Because Rondo is ballin his ass off, and Celtics are trying to get rid of him because they’re looking to go in to another direction.

  • http://www.pisforprops.com jarrett

    jazz get: rajon rondo
    celtics get: devin harris, derrick favors, 2012 first round pick top 5 protected until 2013

  • hushabomb

    With KG, Jesus and Truth on their last legs and their final hurrah, who will be there after? Rondo will be. The best bet is look at free agency after you renegotiate Ray’s and KG’s contract and shore up their bench. Trading Rondo now will Danny Ainge’s death warrant if who you get in does not pan out….

  • hushabomb

    Rondo is a biotchy little fukker

  • RunNGun

    Rondo & Westbrook swap. Make it happen, Ainge.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I just don’t feel like Rondo is the type of player you build around…he’s more of a (very good) complimentary piece. That being said, I agree with Paul H, don’t just trade him for the sake of trading him, he’s way too valuable for that. Get some young talent and/or draft picks. In trading him they’re going into full on rebuild mode, so they better make it count.

  • http://dennysisforwinners.blogspot.com DennysFishTacos

    I think that would be the best move the Celtics could make. Getting rid of Rondo.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I actually really like the Rondo for Westbrook idea…I think both teams and players would benefit from that. I think Boston would have to give a little bit more than just Rondo for Westbrook though…I also don’t know how that would work $$$wise.

  • jpm34

    Singe is going back to the old Singe. Have we forgotten how bad this guy was at his job, other than the Garnett n Allen trades his moves have been god awful. Drafting Gerald Green, Trading Perkins for nothing, etc…….

  • jpm34

    Ainge

  • jake

    Why would you trade rondo? Maybe he’s mad that he’s playing with a team full of guys who can’t run or jump? Perhaps they should trade one of the old timers to a team like okc or the clippers for some picks.

  • http://www.slamonline.com TADOne

    There is no way in hell OKC would trade Westbrook, especially not for Rondo. Hell, they wouldn’t even trade him straight up for Paul. Besides, I’m quite sure that because Westbrook signed an extension, he cannot be traded this season anyway.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    Rondo for Westbrook sounds good basketball wise, but if the Celtics problem is that Rondo is a diva point guard, is getting Westbrook gonna change anything?

  • Paul H

    I think the Celts still think they are going to be In the Dwight sweepstakes. Not sure how much that Is affecting how they are planning at the moment.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Danny Ainge, >, <, or = Otis Smith?

  • Omar

    Why would OKC want Rondo over Westbrook?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    They wouldn’t.

  • Paul H

    Westbrook for Rondo would be daylight robbery for the Celtics. If they pulled It off, move him to the two spot where he belongs. Go to scorer for the next 10 years! He Is a 25/5/5 man.

  • waka2hehe

    pathetic

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Co-sign everybody who noted that a Westbrook for Rondo trade has as much chance of happening as a Derrick Rose for LeBron trade.
    OKC places that much value on Westbrook.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Trade him to Phoenix, Straight up for Nash. (that would make me happy at least, plus, Rajon, i can teach you to shoot!) lol

  • ripslam

    Number one, we’ve heard this a million times before and nothing has materialized (yet). All the same, I think trading Rondo would be extremely stupid on Ainge’s part seeing he’s by far the best player on the team and one of the best point guards in the league. Also, I seriously doubt that the C’s could get anything close to equal value for him, and you know Pierce, KG, and Allen would be seriously unhappy if he was shipped out. Wait till the season’s over and the contracts of the Big Three expire, then look to rebuild. A midseason Rondo trade is a bad idea.

  • Antonio

    Rondo isn’t a franchise player, i like this trades:

    Rondo to Golden / Monta to Celtics

    Rondo to Jazz / Big Al to Celtics

    Danny it´s time to trade Rondo, I think the relationship between Doc and Rondo is not good, Rondo has a complicated character.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Never said it was likely, but it really would make sense basketball wise if Boston threw in a couple more pieces. OKC has 2 go to scorers and Harden is on the rise too. Having an actual distributor as a PG could benefit them alot.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    Ainge did make the moves that got the C’s a chip, so I’d say Ainge>Otis

    Its highly unlikely, but imagine how much more Durant would score if he didn’t play with a PG that felt he had to shoot every other time down the floor.

  • ripslam

    Neither Jefferson or Ellis are equal value for Rondo.

  • Riggs

    wow Rondo still getting hated on? not a franchise guy? ok tell me who the hell lead the celtics to the playoff and to their second finals? this dude had put the team on his back and people still say you cant build a team around him.

  • http://www.yahoo.com The Fury

    Rondo for Rubio..lol

  • http://www.yahoo.com The Fury

    ..or Rondo to the Kings for somebody so the Kings would lessen their chuckers.

  • http://Www.facebook.com Kyle

    @r

  • whodat?

    Is rondo worth two first round picks???? If so I know a great team 1 good player away from dominating the rest of the NBA.

  • Ill Smith

    All this talk about Rondo’s attitude but who wouldn’t have one if you busted your ass harder than anyone on the court yet somehow find your name in the rumor mill constantly? The life & death of my Cs falls on Danny Ainge & it’s reall sad. The only reason the team that’s currently together is a success is because of Danny’s old Celtic ties (McHale gift wrapped KG for him). This is the same genius that was depending on Shaq for a championship run…….in 2011. You give up Rondo & what continuity are you left to build with? Find a damn center, ride out the season then start fresh.

  • Ill Smith

    Like I already said Bass & JO’s expiring to Washington for Javale & Blatche. I don’t see how this trade doesn’t benefit everyone.

  • http://Www.facebook.com Kyle

    @ripslammthey are not equal value? I think they’re pretty close, who is equal value then? I hope the celtics get a B+ to A- guy for Rondo and not just some C grade pieces, unless they address needed roles.n I don’t see monta for rondo happening though because I don’t think Monta can play PG nor Ray Allen. I don’t think they are ready at least this season to send Ray to the bench for Monta either. The Al Jefferson trade would be ideal in my opinion, but then who plays Pg? Keyon dooling? Avery Bradley? I guess thats cool. I think if it was Rondo was traded for Al there would be a third team involved for Devin Harris to find a new home, just my thoughts, troll away at them.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Wayno
    I don’t think it would benefit them because Rondo is such a lukewarm scorer. They actually only have three true scorers on the entire team, and many of the other players are severely limited. I think they need Westbrook’s scoring punch. The Paul trade made sense because of his combination of scoring and passing, just like a Deron Williams trade. A trade where they don’t get that, but just get hte passing, doesn’t really make their team stronger overall, in my opinion.

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