Rajon Rondo Trade Rumors: 5 Reasons Why Celtics Won't Deal Superstar

The Boston Celtics need a makeover and as early as a week ago, according to ESPN, the team was "aggressively" trying to trade multi-talented point guard Rajon Rondo.  Team GM Danny Ainge shot down the rumors shortly afterward, saying that the Celtics were merely listening to offers and nothing more.

Still, look at the many different ways in which Rondo is a threat.  He can drive the lane, rebound and pass quite effectively and he's an absolute pest on defense as well.  To be blunt, there are teams out there who would sell the farm just to have him run the point for them.

Yet, there's absolutely no way the Celtics will deal for him, and here's why.

Versatility

To give you all an idea of just how talented Rajon Rondo is, take a look at his statline from the Celtics' game against the New York Knicks on March 4.  That day, Rondo scored 18 points on 7 of 20 shooting, pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 20 assists.

Considering how Rondo is pretty tiny at 6'1", 186 pounds, you can see how mind-blowing those numbers are.  On the season, he's averaging 13.9 points, 10 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.  Point guards like him come once in a blue moon and to trade him would cause the Celtics to take a big step back.

Oh, did I mention that he can also dunk?

Relationships with His Teammates

The key to a successful team is the element of teamwork itself, which means key players getting along with one another.  Such has been the case with Rondo and his teammates, who have become playoff regulars and have even won a championship ring together in 2008.

Ainge has already said he'd be willing to make a trade to ensure future success, but dealing Rondo is not the answer.  Think of the Celtics as a band, and Rondo as the drummer.  He sets the tone and rhythm for all of the offense and does a phenomenal job.

Losing him means the Celtics losing their rhythm and as history as taught us with bands like The Who and Kiss, bands always get worse when the original drummer is replaced.

Age

Believe it or not, one of Rondo's greatest qualities is his age.  He's only 26 years old and already, his list of accomplishments/accolades is much longer than most other players his age.

Not only has he won a championship ring, but he has also been named to three consecutive All-Star teams and to two All-Defensive First Teams.

In just his sixth season, Rondo has already accomplished what most players hope to do in an entire career.  There's no telling how much more he'll be able to do for the remainder of his career.  He's young enough to the point that he's only reached the tip of the iceberg in becoming a Celtics icon and to lose him via trade now would be a crying shame.

Who Else Is Going to Play Point Guard?

Now, should the Celtics trade Rondo, chances are that they'll receive a point guard in return to compensate them.  Still, suppose they don't?

That leaves backup Keyon Dooling as the starting option at the point and while he has his positive attributes, he isn't in the same league as Rondo by a long shot.

Attitude

When the initial report of Rondo being shopped surfaced, the Celtics' primary reason for doing so was because they found the man's attitude to be too high maintenance.  Team management reached its boiling point in this department after Rondo's repeated issues with head coach Doc Rivers.

Still, while we'll never really know the full extent of Rondo's attitude issues, there is one aspect of his attitude that you just have to love.  Never before have I seen a point guard more dedicated to excellence and winning than Rondo.  He plays every game as though it's his last and gives well over 100 percent effort night after night.

You can't buy such intense determination like that today and if the Celtics do indeed decide to trade Rondo, then they will have shot themselves in the foot, and badly.