Boston Celtics Trade Rumors: Danny Ainge Right Not to Deal Rajon Rondo

In the wake of numerous Rajon Rondo trade rumors, Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge has come out and said that he doesn't anticipate dealing the three-time All-Star.

When asked about Rondo's immediate future, Rondo said, via the Boston Herald, "I anticipate him being here for a long time."

Rondo is the Celtics' best player right now. On top of that, he's 26 years old and averaging 14.2 points, 9.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 47 percent from the floor.

Part of the reason Rondo's name has come out in trade rumors has been his rocky relationship with head coach Doc Rivers.

According to the Herald, Rondo threw a water bottle into a video screen during a team meeting during the playoffs after Rivers criticized him. He also received a two-game suspension for throwing the ball at referee Sean Wright this season.

But Ainge claims Rondo's relationship with Rivers has gotten better.

Ainge noted, via the Herald:

"

Rondo and Doc get along fine. That doesn’t mean there aren’t bumps in the road. But I think Rondo and Doc are actually better now than they have ever been. But there are other issues that concern us a lot more than that. There’s nothing new to this.

"

What should be concerning the Celtics is that they are an aging team. Their "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are well into their 30s. They have slowed down physically and their collective production has dropped.

That's why, despite some ups and downs with Rondo, the Celtics can't afford to trade him. He's their best player, and he still has plenty of years left in him.

What the Celtics should be looking to do is break apart the Big Three. There are plenty of contending teams that would love Pierce, Allen or Garnett, and the Celtics can't realistically compete for the title this season. The days of being "The Beasts of the East" are over. The Celtics must get value for Pierce, Allen and Garnett while they still can.

It's hard for Celtics fans to accept, of course, not to mention Danny Ainge.

Pierce, Allen and Garnett won a title for Boston in 2008, after all.

But imagine the wealth of young players and draft picks the Celtics could get for the Big Three.

That assortment, combined with Rondo, could position the Celtics for another run at the championship in the not-too-distant future.

Ainge is right to hang on to Rondo.