Rondo’s Return Sparks NBA Trade Rumours; Rondo to Houston for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik?
By James Patrick Quizon | January 20, 2014 2:44 PM EST
Rajon Rondo is back for the Boston Celtics, but with the trade deadline roughly a month away, his return for the green may be short-lived as the rebuilding squad will look to trade him this season. 
According to a report from New York Daily News, Boston’s general manger, Danny Ainge, is highly considering dealing away the four-time NBA All-Star to accumulate more assets as they build for the future.
Rondo is coming off the first major injury—a torn ACL—of his career but multiple teams are reportedly interested in the star point guard whose contract with Boston expires after the end of the 2013-2014 NBA season. Rondo is owed a total of $25M what could be his final two years in Boston.
For the Celtics part, Ainge has already collected potentially a total of 17 draft picks over the next five drafts. The most notable of these picks are the ones owed by the Brooklyn Nets which gave Boston three first round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 in the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce deal.
In moving Rondo, who may not be part of the rebuilding process, the Celtics could net them yet another high draft pick or a star player in exchange for their number one trade asset. Boston appears to hold the leverage in the deal involving Rondo, so acquiring both picks and quality players is a possibility—and even including the toxic contract of Gerald Wallace who is still owed over $33M over the next three seasons.
The Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are reportedly the suitors for Rondo. Houston probably has the players but doesn’t have the high draft picks. Sacramento’s 2014 first rounder sounds enticing, but they lack a true star outside of DeMarcus Cousins that can convince Boston. Lastly, the Suns are already loaded at the point guard spot with Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic.
Who will win the Rondo sweepstakes before the NBA trade deadline? Here is the probable deal with the Celtics
Boston Celtics- Houston Rockets Trade
Rajon Rondo ($11M) + Gerald Wallace ($10M) for Jeremy Lin ($8.3M) + Omer Asik ($8.4M) + Donatas Motiejunas ($1.4M)
The Logic for Houston: Rondo immediately starts at the 1-spot for the Rockets and adds a star to the already potentially great Dwight Howard-James Harden star combo. Adding Wallace could be a nice fit, his contract is expensive, but he plays SF-PF and is a plus when playing motivated.
The Logic for Boston: They get maximum value from Rondo, who might bolt for a contender anyway. Lin and Asik may not be true superstars, but both are legit starters. Montiejunas could be the ice-breaker as the “stretch four” has a great potential.
To contact the editor, e-mail: editor@ibtimes.com
選擇“Disable on www.wenxuecity.com”
選擇“don't run on pages on this domain”
