Celtics Trade Rumors: Boston Blunders in Ripping Rajon Rondo from Trade Talks

The Boston Celtics have called off the Rajon Rondo sweepstakes before they even began, and that makes no sense. 

The rumors ran rampant, as they all want to do at this time of the season. The sensible and the wildly inaccurate share the same stage on our way to the trade deadline. 

That's why it's so hard to sift through and find the truth. For the Celtics, the over-arching reality is that the future will have to be far different than the present. This aged team needs to be imploded and built anew with a fresh cast of characters. 

That's why it made sense when ESPN's Chris Broussard reported the Celtics were shopping Rajon Rondo, and shopping him hard. 

"

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...And they do not want to build around him.

"

Oh my, that sounds like a disaster that has to be averted. 

Well, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has come out like a good executive to play up the love and adoration the franchise has for Rondo. 

He pretty much kills the trade hype with one epic quote, via ESPN. 

"

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.

"

I hope that Ainge is posturing for the masses as he continues to work a deal for Rondo. I will also accept Ainge trying to assuage Rondo's feelings as a reason for the above quote. 

I will not accept Ainge taking one of his best tradable assets off the table. 

This team needs a fresh new face and a bevy of youth. I am in the camp of people that love Rondo and the tenacity he brings, but he is the most valuable trade piece the Celtics have right now. 

Sure, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are more likely trade pieces, but as elderly free agents to be, they offer horrible value in return. 

Only Rondo, and to some degree Paul Pierce, can bring back players that will actually matter in the next few years. 

Ainge has ripped Rondo from the trade heap, but I don't buy any of it. Consider the prized point guard very much in play, because that makes the most sense for the franchise. 

Follow @gabezal