Rajon Rondo's name has been smoldering in NBA trade rumors regarding the future of the Boston Celtics.

This is more than the team just doing its due diligence on the point guard.

It's becoming obvious that general manager Danny Ainge doesn't view Rondo as a point guard who he can build a championship contender around going into the future, and it has led to several conversations about whether or not the team should deal him right now.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported that the Celtics would be willing to move Rondo in the "right deal," but there was initially some confusion as to what that scenario might be.

Rondo signed a five-year extension worth about $55 million in 2009, and he's under contract through the 2014-15 season at a reasonable rate.

In a league where bad contracts abound on almost every roster, that's a serious bargain.

Bos_g_rondo-ainge-paul01jr_tripanel_576_crop_340x234 Danny Ainge may have to give up his dream of landing CP3.
However, on the heels of Broussard's report that the team might be investigating the potential for a deal, Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated revealed that Ainge is "highly motivated" to land Chris Paul, and that would definitely jive with the belief that Boston will only deal its current starter for an obvious upgrade at the position.

Don't get too excited, Celtics fans.

First and foremost: The NBA currently owns and operates the Hornets, and it's highly unlikely the league would sign off on such a trade that would dramatically shift the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.

New Orleans reportedly has no interest in a two-team deal with a package built around Rondo in exchange for its franchise star, and rightfully so, as the Hornets could get better offers than the one Boston could currently present.

Broussard also adds that Paul would be unwilling to sign a long-term extension with the Celtics, and that should pump the brakes on most of the chatter surrounding a deal built around Rondo.

Paul and Rondo butt heads on the court.
Ainge is searching for a way to keep the championship window open for the Celtics, and he's certainly never been afraid to pull the trigger on bold moves, as we saw last season when he shocked the basketball world by dealing Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green.

Boston reportedly attempted to deal Green and Rondo to Oklahoma City at the conclusion of the 2011 postseason in exchange for Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins, a deal that would make absolutely no sense for the Thunder.

Sounds like Ainge might be having buyer's regret after deciding to deal Perkins, who many fans viewed as an integral part of the heart and soul of the Celtics roster.

Kendrick-perkins-nate-robinson-nenad-krstic-jeff-green_original_original_original The Perkins for Green swap remains heavily criticized.
Even if the Celtics did make that offer (which would have been an illegal trade), it makes no sense for a Thunder team that is said to be extremely high on Westbrook's future and just handed a sizable four-year extension to Perkins to pull the trigger on such an offer.

Per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Thunder believe so deeply in Westbrook's future that the club won't hesitate to give him a maximum contract, so that in and of itself should pour buckets of water on the fiery flames of this strange rumor.

Ainge is playing with fire, and he better be careful that he doesn't get burned.