The Dallas Mavericks Should Trade for Rajon Rondo

The Dallas Mavericks should be knocking on the door of the Boston Celtics with a proposed trade for Rajon Rondo.

With the news of the Boston Celtics shipping Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace and three future first-round picks, Rondo appears to be virtually alone on a gutted team.

If you thought Bill Simmons was mad, Rajon Rondo must be fuming. In complete rebuilding mode, Rondo, an NBA All-Star, currently sits on a Celtics team without their backbone, their recent face of the franchise, and their championship winning coach.

Arguably the best point guard in the NBA, Rondo is signed on for two more seasons with the Celtics. As the rebuilding is now underway, Rondo is expected to bare down in Boston for two years with very little direction in place. By that time, he would be soon approaching 30 years of age and would have possibly wasted two crucial years in the Heat's Eastern Conference.

Danny Ainge, Celtics president of basketball operations, has most recently addressed the Rondo situation.

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According to NESN.com, Ainge addressed the media toward the end of the first round of the 2013 NBA draft.

“If Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are tradeable, then I guess everybody’s tradeable,” Ainge said. “But there’s guys we’re not looking to move right now." Ainge was asked if Rondo was one of those guys. “Yeah,” he said.

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But, is Ainge a man of his word? Regardless, why would Rondo want to stay when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers and the makings of a championship roster are all gone.

Now, enter the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Mavericks were able to trade down and receive the rights to the 18th pick, Shane Larkin. And, with Mark Cuban showing that he's in wheel-and-deal mode, Larkin might need to hold off on flights to Dallas.

In obvious search for many pieces to surround Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks can offer up Larkin, Vince Carter, and possibly Shawn Marion. Is this enough?

There's high hopes for Larkin, but why keep him in Nowitzki's run if GM Donnie Nelson only considers him as a third option at point guard? A mid-first round pick is still a promising prospect, but maybe not for the Cuban two-year plan.

Per HoopsHype.com, Carter is set to make $3.18 million in the 2013-2014 season and then hit the free agent market. With the late night trade acquisition for the rights to 2nd round pick Ricky Ledo, the Mavericks could have a solid option at shooting guard.

The Mavericks have stated that they don't intend to trade Shawn Marion, but it's not set in stone. He has a player option of $9.13 million for the upcoming season and could be used in a sign-and-trade.

So, while the courting of Dwight Howard is underway, Rondo, an All-NBA Defensive Award winner, would fit right in with defensive-minded coach Rick Carlisle. He's also favorable for the Mavericks payroll because he's not in a max contract, set to make $12 million and $13 million in the next two years.

Many possibilities could be open for a blockbuster trade. Larkin could be shipped elsewhere in a three-team trade, with the young Avery Bradley, still valued by the Celtics. 

In the end, it would come down to whether or not Cuban and Co. can provide the best package to aide Ainge in his quest to rebuild the C's. After all, Cuban does know a thing or two about gutting a championship roster.