NBA Trade Deadline 2012: 10 Deals for Rondo the Celtics Should Consider

According to recent rumors, Rajon Rondo is being aggressively shopped by the Celtics.  Boston GM Danny Ainge has denied this rumor and Coach Doc Rivers has said that he expects Rondo to stay.

I personally do not think the Celtics should trade Rondo, unless they get an offer they can't refuse.  But if they decide to trade Rondo, here are 10 trade proposals the Celtics should consider.

Portland

Who Boston gets: Marcus Camby, and Raymond Felton.

Who Portland gets: Rajon Rondo, Jermaine O'Neal, and JaJuan Johnson.

Why Boston does it: Boston brings in 2 players who can start immediately, who also come off the books at the end of the year, giving them enough cap space to offer a max-deal to a top-tier free agent.  Felton can start or back up Avery Bradley, who the Celtics apparently think has a lot of potential.  Camby gives them a smart, defensive-minded center who, with Kevin Garnett, gives them a fantastic front line on the defensive end.

Why Portland does it: Rondo gives the Blazers a great, energetic point guard to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace. A Rondo-Aldridge combo could wreak havoc in the playoffs (and would match up great against the Lob City duo). O'Neal's contract expires at the end of the season; he'd simply be asked to come off the bench for a few minutes and collect some rebounds.

Utah

Who the Celtics get: Al Jefferson, Devin Harris, C.J. Miles, and a first-round pick.

Who the Jazz get: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Chris Wilcox.

Why the Celtics do it: The Celtics replace Rondo with Harris and bring in Jefferson to man the post. Miles provides instant offense off the bench or can start at shooting guard.

Why the Jazz do it: Rondo is an improvement over Harris and Allen gives them a deep-ball threat to spread the floor for Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors.

Atlanta

Who Boston gets: Josh Smith, C.J. Miles, Raja Bell, and a first-round pick (from Utah) and a first-round pick (from Atlanta).

Who Atlanta gets: Rajon Rondo and Marquis Daniels (from Boston) and Al Jefferson (from Utah).

Who Utah gets: Ray Allen and Greg Stiemsma (from Boston) and Kirk Hinrich (from Atlanta).

Why Boston does it: Boston gets a player Ainge covets in Smith, a young, scoring wing in Miles, and a veteran defensive presence in Bell. Plus two mid-round picks in a loaded draft.

Why Atlanta does it: Atlanta gets an elite point guard in Rondo, who compliments Joe Johnson nicely.  Al Jefferson allows Al Horford (when he returns from injury) to move over to his natural position at power forward. Atlanta could arguably be the third best team in the East.

Why Utah does it: Utah clears up their frontcourt log jam, and brings in two productive guards with expiring deals.

Phoenix

Who Boston gets: Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Robin Lopez.

Who Phoenix gets: Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.

Why Boston does it: Nash is one of the best points in the game, so the point guard void would be filled.  Hill would replace Allen, giving the Celtics a good perimeter defender and slasher.  Lopez gives them an energetic big that they desperately need.

Why Phoenix does it: The Suns replace Nash with a younger point, with a good contract.  Allen gives them a good veteran shooter who can help the Suns make a late season playoff push.  And he comes off the books at the end of the season.

Golden State

Who Boston gets: Monta Ellis and a second-round pick (from Golden State) and Mo Williams and a second-round pick (from Los Angeles Clippers).

Who Golden State gets: Rajon Rondo.

Who Los Angeles Clippers get: Ray Allen.

Why Boston does it: Boston replaces their backcourt with Ellis and Williams. Ellis gives them an elite scorer and Williams gives them a good option at the point.

Why Golden State does it: Bringing in Rondo gives the Warriors a point who can help spread the ball around to Stephen Curry, David Lee, and Dorell Wright.

Why the Clippers do it: The Clippers replace Chauncey Billups (out for the year with a torn ACL) with Allen, who fits in perfectly with the young squad.

Indiana

Who Boston gets: Danny Granger, Darren Collison, and Tyler Hansbrough.

Who Indiana gets: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Marquis Daniels.

Why Boston does it: Boston gets three young players to build around, two still on rookie contracts. With Garnett's contract expiring at the end of the year, the Celtics could make a play for a top free agent.

Why Indiana does it: Pairing Rondo and Allen with Roy Hibbert, David West, and Paul George could make Indiana a serious threat for the Eastern Conference title.

Milwaukee

Who Boston gets: Andrew Bynum (from Los Angeles Lakers), Stephen Jackson and Beno Udrih (from Milwaukee), and Tyler Hansbrough (from Indiana).

Who Milwaukee gets: Rajon Rondo (from Boston) and Pau Gasol (from Los Angeles Lakers)

Who Los Angeles gets: Kevin Garnett (from Boston) and Brandon Jennings, Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova (from Milwaukee).

Who Indiana gets: Ray Allen (from Boston).

Why Boston does it: Boston gets a top center in Bynum, a scoring wing in Jackson, an efficient point in Udrih, and an energetic big in Hansbrough.

Why Milwaukee does it: The Bucks move out the troublesome Jackson and the unhappy Udrih for an elite floor general in Rondo and a star big man in Gasol, who would be a fantastic pairing with Andrew Bogut.

Why Los Angeles does it: The Lakers get a talented, quick point in Jennings, and Garnett, who can still contribute (and he has a massive expiring deal, allowing the Lakers to go after Dwight Howard if he decides to become a free agent). Gooden is a big with playoff experience and Ilyasova give the Lakers a versatile sixth man.

Why Indiana does it: Allen gives the Pacers a dependable shooter, who is invaluable in crunch time. 

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Lakers get: Rajon Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal (from Boston).

Boston Celtics get: Pau Gasol (from Los Angeles Lakers), Mo Williams, Trey Thompkins and a first-round pick (from the Los Angeles Clippers).

Los Angeles Clippers get: Ray Allen (from Boston) and Andrew Goudelock (from Los Angeles Lakers).

Why the Lakers do it: The Lakers get a superstar in Rondo, who can run the point and bring new life to the Lakers. They also get the expiring deal of O'Neal.

Why the Celtics do it: The Celtics move the sometimes-troubling Rondo and bring back Gasol to give them a strong post presence, and Williams as a versatile scoring threat to come off the bench.

Why the Clippers do it: The Clippers swap Williams for Allen who takes Chauncey Billups' place in the lineup, giving them the veteran shooting guard they covet.

Miami

Who Boston gets: Chris Bosh, Norris Cole, and Eddy Curry.

Who Miami gets: Rajon Rondo, Brandon Bass, and Chris Wilcox.

Why Boston does it: They bring in Bosh to take over the power forward spot from Garnett and to build around him for the future. Cole is a young, inexpensive point they can develop.

Why Miami does it: Rondo gives Miami an elite point who will excel at finding LeBron and Wade on the court. Plus, Rondo gives Miami a guy that can cover over points, so Wade and James won't have to chase down the likes of Derrick Rose or Jeremy Lin in the playoffs.

New Jersey

Who Boston gets: Deron Williams, Deshawn Stevenson, and Shelden Williams.

Who New Jersey gets: Rajon Rondo, Jermaine O'Neal, and Marquis Daniels.

Why Boston does it: Boston would bite the bullet and gamble that Williams would enjoy his half-season in Beantown so much that he decides to stay.  Playing with Pierce, Allen, and Garnett may help him remember what winning is like.

Why New Jersey does it: New Jersey could end up with Dwight Howard, which might help convince Williams to stay. So instead of losing Williams for nothing, they downgrade a little, and with O'Neal's expiring deal adding to Jersey's already impressive 2012 cap-space, the Nets could make a run at an elite wing player to team with Rondo and Brook Lopez.