NBA Rumors: Latest on Boston Celtics' Volatile Situation

You can almost hear the creaking and cracking of a team about to be imploded and reformed anew. Here is the latest on the Boston Celtics. 

For those uninitiated, the Boston Celtics are an old bunch that are leaning far too closely to mediocrity than they are to another title. 

On top of that, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett will soon be free agents. That means we can expect a great deal of discussion to take place surrounding the Celtics heading toward the trade deadline.

Rajon Rondo

Oh boy. 

First, he was the first player to be sent off in the mass exodus, and then president of basketball operations Danny Ainge came in to put all those rumors to rest.

I have no idea what to think anymore.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported on Wednesday that Rondo is in the middle of trade discussions. 

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The Celtics find Rondo's personality to be too high-maintenance and his clashes with coach Doc Rivers remain an off-court distraction ... and the front office is now actively pitching him to other teams.

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That set off a storm that is now coming to a pleasant calm. 

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe came out and stated the following. 

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The Celtics have every intention to move forward after the Big Three without a series of lottery appearances, and they are as willing to begin that new era with Rondo running the offense as they are without him.

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Mr. Ainge then had the last word of the week on Rondo, regarding what he considers to be ludicrous claims. He stated the following, via ESPN. 

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He's our best player, he's the most important part of our future. There's no way we're actively trying to trade Rondo. That make no sense, no logical sense.

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It seems that Rondo would be off the market, for now. It makes sense that the Celtics would try to get rid of some of their older players before the youthful star guard. 

However, I am willing to bet we hear more about Rondo closer to the trade deadline if all other avenues go unfulfilled.

Josh Smith

The other great rumor hitting Boston right now is Ainge's intrigue in Hawks star Josh Smith. 

Mitch Lawrence, in his New York Daily News article on Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony, gives us an interesting tid-bit for all Celtics fans out there.

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Ainge is trying to land Atlanta's Josh Smith and other young studs, while offering up Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen can also be had, for young players and draft picks. Rajon Rondo might be leaving, too, with the Lakers and Utah seen as possible destinations. 

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You get the sense there is a flurry of activity going on behind the scenes as Ainge tries to turn this aging ballclub into a promising young contender. 

The fear is that the Celtics may rush their judgement and pull off another gaffe like when they sent Kendrick Perkins away—a tough big man they would love to have right now. 

The Celtics continue to be one of the most interesting teams heading toward the trade deadline. They are going nowhere in the standings and have pieces that will take some creative thinking to trade away. 

Danny Ainge is about to earn his paycheck. 

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