NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics Smart to Silence Rajon Rondo Talk

The Boston Celtics are going to have to rebuild sooner rather than later, and Rajon Rondo could be a big part of their future as a result. 

According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was doing everything he could to quiet the trade rumors surrounding his All-Star point guard.

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So the Celtics spent yesterday doing damage control. The brass is more than bothered by what they say are unfounded rumors. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge wouldn’t comment on trade rumors other than to say, “Rondo’s been our best player.’’

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He is a three-time All-Star, an assist machine when he is focused, and has shown little hesitation in attacking the basket. There is one primary reason, however, why the Celtics would part with Rondo: the chance to rebuild quickly after the Big Three era.

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One of the most difficult positions in the NBA to fill is point guard—the other is center. The Celtics have a great one in Rondo, who is signed to a great, team-friendly contract and entering the prime years of his career. 

Why would the Celtics want it to be public knowledge that they are trading this player? If they do, teams looking to acquire him are going to make a lowball offer for him. 

Trading your best player is the easiest way to kickstart a rebuilding effort.

The Celtics do have many problems they will have to fix before they can contend for championships again, some of which can be fixed if they were to deal Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, but when you have a true franchise cornerstone signed to a great contract in his prime, there is no reason to deal that player. 

It is possible Rondo does get moved because the Celtics are just blown away with an offer that would be idiotic to refuse. However, short of that there is no good, logical reason for the team to try moving him. 

Other teams have to come to the Celtics with an offer that is good enough for Rondo. The Celtics don't have to sell him to anyone else, nor should they. 

Toning down all the Rondo talk is the smartest thing Ainge and the Celtics have done so far this season. 

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