NBA Trade Rumors: Best Suitors for Rajon Rondo

With the Celtics struggling and there also being concerns about Rajon Rondo's "high-maintenance" personality, it appears that a trade involving Rondo is imminent.

It's been reported by ESPN that Boston is "aggressively" seeking to cast off Rondo and the Celtics will certainly draw a bevy of interested teams.

While Rondo may at times clash with coaches and teammates, there are still plenty of upsides to his game. He's only 26 and his current contract (which isn't overly costly) still has numerous years on it.

Further, if his "high-maintenance" persona has downsides, there are upsides to this persona as well as he's a proven competitor and wants to win as much as anyone in the league.

Most importantly, Rondo can play. He's one of the best creators and distributors in the league. Teams surely desire what he can bring to the table.

Here are the teams that should jump on pursuing Rondo as soon as possible.  

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have proven they're a good team, but it's premature to say they're elite.

They've impressed many this year and currently boast the third best record in the Eastern Conference, but can they beat Miami, Chicago or even teams like Orlando, Atlanta, and New York come playoff time?

That's a question worth some consideration and there are certainly reasons to have doubts. They have some solid young pieces, but acquiring Rondo could situate them in the elite category.

How could they pull this off?

Veteran Danny Granger is becoming expendable. He's Indiana's leading scorer (18.2) but he has a sub-par shooting percentage (40.5). There are also concerns whether he's inhibiting the emergence of young wing Paul George.

Therefore, trading Granger is not a bad idea, but it will take more than him to acquire Rondo. The Pacers would also have to include point guard Darren Collison (whom Rondo would replace in the backcourt) and potentially a draft pick. 

Granger, Collison and a draft pick for Rondo is a decent deal for both Indiana and Boston.

For the Pacers, luring Rondo would give them a point guard for the future to go with budding youngsters George and All-Star Roy Hibbert. If such a core is not enough to contend this year, it certainly will be in the future.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings will be staying put in Sacramento and have even released a financing plan to build a new arena.

Why not celebrate this by making a blockbuster trade?

The Kings possess some talented young players in DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette, but they're still a lowly team in the Western Conference.

Evans, who won the Rookie of the Year award two years ago, hasn't made significant strides since his rookie season. Quite frankly, he hasn't seemed to have made any strides (his production has decreased).

But his upside remains large and he's such a unique player. He's a thick 6'6" and has drawn comparisons as a "mini-Lebron" because of his ability to handle the ball.

He's undoubtedly an alluring asset that teams would be interested in, so the Kings could pursue a straight swap of Evans for Rondo. If need be, the Kings could also include one of their young big men, such as Hassan Whiteside.

Evans would give Boston a player to build around for the future, and Rondo would give the Kings a proven true point guard who could dish the rock effectively to the emerging talent in Sac-town.

For Sacramento, it's time to get on the phone and speculate such a deal.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers appear to just be an average team, and it's apparent that point guard Raymond Felton has grown disgruntled.

It's not like this team is going to win a championship, and quite frankly they may struggle to even make the playoffs.

Therefore, making a move is a good idea and Rondo would fit in beautifully. Rondo and All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge could form a potent duo that could contend out West.

But such a deal would most likely feature the Blazers giving up promising 23-year-old Nicolas Batum. Boston would assuredly want him, as well as Felton and potentially a draft pick.

While losing Batum is tough, acquiring Rondo gives the Blazers a point guard for the future who can govern them to contention out West.

Orlando Magic

The Magic are interested in any deal that will help convince Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando long term.

Is Rondo convincing enough?

That's the big question, because the Magic would have to give up impressive 23-year-old Ryan Anderson to get him. Orlando doesn't have many alluring trade assets and they'd have to be willing to cast off Anderson to land a player of Rondo's caliber.

The Magic could package Anderson and point guard Jameer Nelson, but even that proposal may not be as enticing as what other teams propose.

Nonetheless, it could be worth pursuing, because if Orlando's supreme hope is centered upon retaining Howard, then adding Rondo surely helps.

Utah Jazz

Out of all the teams, the Jazz might be able to construct the most alluring proposal to land Rondo. They possess an array of big men (Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors) and could willingly bid farewell to one of them.

Kanter, in particular, is a very bright 19-year-old rookie. In only 14.4 minutes per game, he's averaging five points and five rebounds, which makes for highly effective minutes.

Boston would surely love to add Kanter to their frontcourt and build around him for the future.

A proposal of Kanter, point guard Devin Harris and a draft pick might honestly trump any proposal from other teams.

For Utah, Rondo would give them the distributing point guard they need to go with their frontcourt depth. His presence could take them from an average team fighting for a playoff spot to a team that could efficiently battle the best teams out West.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have been mentioned in trade rumors all year, mainly featuring deals for Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry.

An interesting route for them to take would be to pursue Rondo. This is a long shot, but a deal involving Curry for Rondo is surely to draw interest from the Celtics. Despite Curry's injury problems, the young sharpshooting guard still carries loads of upside. 

And for Golden State, landing Rondo would give them an All-Star point guard for whichever route their future takes them. 

They likely won't pursue Rondo before other teams, but they can jump in the mix as quick as anybody because they have quality trade bait.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are clearly in dire need of a point guard and Rondo's feisty personality would actually mesh well with Kobe Bryant. If they both want to win, they could find a way to make things work.

But the question is whether or not the Lakers have the trade bait to get Rondo. There have been rumors about a Pau Gasol for Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal deal, but it's hard to know what's enticing about this for the Celtics.

Gasol is 31 years old and his best years are behind him. If the Celtics are going to trade Rondo, aren't they going to seek after young talent from a team such as Utah?

Therefore, for Rondo to end up in Los Angeles, the Lakers will most likely have to keep Gasol and trade 24-year-old Andrew Bynum for Rondo instead. Bynum's involvement is likely a deal breaker for the Lakers.

The Lakers surely desire Rondo, but don't expect Rondo and Kobe to share a backcourt anytime soon.