Rajon Rondo Trade Rumors: Celtics Smart to Put Point Guard on Trade Block

Back on March 1 when the Boston Celtics revealed they were listening to calls regarding Rajon Rondo, I was baffled.

Rondo's jump shot may resemble Ben Wallace's, but every other aspect of his game is so good that we still regard him as one of the best floor generals in the NBA. His superior passing, rebounding and defensive skills make you quickly forget about his jumper.

On top of that, and possibly even more importantly, Rondo is just 26 years old and is under contract until 2015. I understand trying to trade Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett in an attempt to rebuild, but Rajon Rondo is the type of player you want to build around, not give up. 

But now, I finally get it.

I see that in the two games since Rondo was again placed on the trade block, he has averaged 16 points, 16.5 assists, 14.5 rebounds and three steals.

I see that Rondo clearly does not like being at the center of trade rumors and is obviously set out to prove he is the second coming of Oscar Robertson. 

I see that, as Garnett puts it, “trade talks are a good motivating factor for him. You know Rondo, he’s a competitive-type person. He was very motivated. This game had a lot of juice for him to come out and play the way he did.’’

This was clearly all just a ploy by Celtics GM Danny Ainge, who never really intended—or intends—to trade Rondo, but was just lighting a fire under his point guard's behind. 

Risky business, Mr. Ainge, but it appears to be working.

In all seriousness, Rondo is playing excruciatingly well through these trade rumors, and that's something that not a lot of players are always able to do.

Rondo is proving to the Celtics that trading him would be one of the worst possible moves. And if putting him on the trade block is the necessary move to get him to the level he's currently playing at, then so be it.

Sometimes players need to find their motivation. Whether it was intentional or not, the Celtics appear to have found Rajon Rondo's.