NBA Trade Deadline 2012: Indiana Pacers Should Pursue Rajon Rondo

After the All-Star break, the Indiana Pacers came ready to start right where they left off. The Pacers came out and demolished the Warriors in their first game back, then stretched their win-streak to six games with their win on the road in New Orleans.

Now, the Pacers are set to begin another tough stretch of games similar to the one they faced in January.

Over their next eight games, the Pacers play five teams with a plus .500 record; Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Clippers. The Knicks and Trailblazers will round out that stretch of games, and both of those teams possess records of 18-19.

These games will show a lot about what the identity of this team truly is. The Pacers possess the pieces to battle with some of these teams, but most believe they are still one trade away from truly being a title contender.

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls are running away with the conference, and Indiana currently has the third-best record in the Eastern conference, but they are clearly not on the same level as the Bulls and the Heat.

A move that the Pacers should truly consider that would put them on the next level is the acquisition of Rajon Rondo.

The Boston Celtics' point guard is a true floor-general, and that is something that the Pacers currently lack.

Darren Collison is a good guard, but, at times, he loses control of the game. A prime example would be during the third quarter of the Indiana-Chicago game, where the Pacers held the lead and, in an instant, it was gone and they were down by 12.

Collison is a great point guard, averaging 11.5 ppg and dishing out a mediocre 5.2 apg. On the other hand, Rondo is a tremendous improvement at the position for the Pacers.

He is averaging a double-double with 14.3 ppg and 10.2 apg. Rondo takes control of games when they could possibly turn into a panic situation and that is what the Pacers need.

While he is certainly not a clutch shooter, he possesses the necessary skills to be clutch with his timely assists and competitive attitude.

The Pacers should seriously consider this upgrade at the guard position and make an offer for the All-Star guard, despite the Celtics denying he is for sale.

If the Pacers were to offer a pick along with some combination of Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Granger, or Dahntay Jones. Any asset of the Pacers should be available, except Paul George and Roy Hibbert. Rondo is the real deal and, with his fast-paced play, he could run alongside Paul George for days.

As well as his amazing passing on the run, Rondo is a tremendous pick-and-roll point guard. David West could finally return to his glory days of having a true point guard that has the ability to put the ball right on the money off the pick-and-roll.

If Rondo decides not to pass, his blistering speed allows him to get to the rim every time. Sure, Collison has tremendous speed, but we have yet to truly see him harness it and use it as a major threat.

Rondo's offense isn't the only thing the Pacers should be awing over. His defense is nothing to ignore.Rondo averages 1.7 steals-per-game, compared to Collison's 0.8. Rondo's size is also something that would help the Pacers.

Collison is an undersized point guard at 6'0" tall and only weighing 160 pounds.Rondo has another inch and nearly 25 pounds more on Collison.

This difference in size would allow him to guard the bigger point guards in the league, thus letting the Pacers utilize Paul George's amazing defensive abilities on other players rather than the opposition's main guard.

The possibilities are endless, and this isn't a trade that must happen for the Pacers to ultimately succeed. This certainly is a trade that would elevate the Indiana Pacers to the next level, and would prevent them from being blown-out by 20 points verse the Bulls and Heat.