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NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Trade of Rajon Rondo Imminent?

By Michael Dunlap

Apr 5, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks on during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons beat the Celtics 115-111. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks on during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons beat the Celtics 115-111. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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If you’re a Boston Celtics fan, you don’t want to hear any more NBA rumors about Rajon Rondo being traded. It’s like hearing from all of your friends that your significant other is going to break up with you but every time you see them, they act like nothing’s wrong. The Celtics have been openly shopping Rondo and seem all but set on moving him in order to officially blow up, bottom out and start all over again.

Mark Heisler, Forbes blogger, talked about the potential of Rondo going to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for their first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft. This deal would almost certainly mark the exit of Isaiah Thomas from Sacramento and it would give the Celtics a good opportunity to jump start the franchise by adding two young, promising talents.

The other interesting option, should this trade go down on draft night, is who would turn down the No. 6 and No. 8 picks for the No. 2 or No. 3 selection? What if the Cleveland Cavaliers get cold feet on Andrew Wiggins and go the “safer” route with Jabari Parker? Would the Bucks try to hit two doubles with the No. 6 and No. 8 instead of swinging for the fences with the No. 2?

If the Celtics pulled this trade off and decided to stay pat, Heisler believes they’ll take either Marcus Smart or Elfrid Payton. The truth of the matter is, there’s some quality talent to be had in those spots and Boston could do a lot of different things with those picks. What if they rolled the dice on Joel Embiid and still got Marcus Smart? Wouldn’t Celtics fans be happy with that?

In all likelihood, Smart isn’t falling past the Lakers at No. 7, so they’d have to take him at No. 6. I’d be shocked if Embiid fell past No.7 so it’s really more of a pipe dream than anything else. More likely would be the combination of Smart with a guy like Aaron Gordon or Julius Randle.

As of this minute, Rondo is still a member of the Celtics and is our last real (player) connection to the 2007-08 championship team (gah, has it been six years already). That era and that team is gone, a figment of our imaginations. Time for Boston to take a scissor to the last thread and trade Rondo.

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