Rajon Rondo Trade “Not Out Of The Question” Per Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics GM
The Boston Celtics rebuilding process is taking a lot of time even as they failed to swoop in on a big-time free agent signing or trade for a big name star in the 2014 offseason. Front and centre of the process is star point guard Rajon Rondo, who will become a free agent himself after the 2014-2015 NBA season.
Even Boston Celtics president of basketball operations/general manager Danny Ainge is not sure what the future holds with regards to their franchise player Rondo, who is in the final year of a 5-year $55 million contract he signed in 2010.
Speaking at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Worcester County, Massachusetts, the topic turned to basketball because even the church-goers are interested in Boston’s plans on Rajon Rondo.
"The truthful answer is I really don't know," Ainge was quoted saying in the speaking engagement via telegram.com, a local news site based in Worcester County, when asked about his plans on Rondo.
"I have no intention. I'm not trying to trade Rondo, but because he's a free agent this summer, he assured me that he wants to stay in Boston. We'd love to keep him in Boston."
However, Ainge admitted afterwards that while he does not want part with Rondo, it is likely that they deal away him as no current Celtic is untouchable in the roster.
"The possibility of a trade is not out of the question," Ainge added in the same article. "Nobody is untradeable, but I don't see that happening."
Rondo will be the highest paid Celtic for 2014-2015 with a salary of $12,909,090.
Trading away Rondo is indeed a possibility as Boston’s roster feature young— and cheaper— options at the point guard spot.
The Celtics still have the promising defensive whiz in Avery Bradley, who signed a four-year $32 million contract extension with the team earlier in the offseason. The Cs also drafted Marcus Smart, yet another combo guard, and will be paid on the rookie deal of about $6.7 million in the next two years.
Rondo’s brush with injury problems also concerns the Celtics. In the past two seasons, the 28-year-old has only played in 68 of the possible 164 games. Rondo averages 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.9 steals in eight seasons in Boston.
Rondo and the Celtics brass failed to agree on a contract extension in the past offseason and it is more likely that the star point guard will hit the free agent market. Rondo is expected to demand the maximum salary starting at about $15M and that could be too pricey for a Celtics squad still in the middle of a rebuilding mode.
