NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Speculation Surrounding Rajon Rondo and More
The NBA season can be broken into three acts—the pre-trade deadline, the post-trade deadline and the playoffs.
While the actual trades will likely come closer to the Feb. 20 deadline, there are always plenty of rumors circulating around the league in that pre-trade deadline period. The 2014-15 campaign has been no different.
With that in mind, read on to see the latest speculation concerning the Houston Rockets and Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics.
Houston Rockets
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle passed along an update on the Rockets' personnel plans:
"The Rockets have been actively seeking to deal the $8.34 million trade exception that came with the Lin trade in a change to their original strategy, according to a person familiar with their trade talks around the league.
The Rockets have talked to teams about 10 to 12 players, the individual familiar with the trade talks said.
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Feigen also mentioned that Houston is looking to add a player to strengthen the overall rotation instead of someone to simply bolster one position, but it is hard to ignore the fact that Terrence Jones is out with injury, and the power forward depth is lackluster at best.
Houston is fresh off a 98-92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night in which it was outrebounded, 47-38. Granted, a major reason for that discrepancy is that Dwight Howard didn't play, but the Rockets could certainly use another frontcourt option to help the big man down low on the glass and as an interior defender.
Houston could wait until closer to the deadline when more players will theoretically be available in potential trades, but Feigen pointed out that a smaller deal now involving the trade exception could actually improve its options in February in any possible larger deal for a more marquee player.
It remains to be seen how this situation unfolds, but it is fairly clear that the Rockets are going for a title this season.
Rajon Rondo
Howard Beck of Bleacher Report noted that the Celtics could have a Rondo predicament on their hands:
"These are the questions that may come to define the Celtics' season, or at least the period between now and the Feb. 20 trade deadline. Rival executives say that Ainge has been firm in his stance that Rondo will not be dealt. But many of those same executives believe that Ainge has to trade Rondo, to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.
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Beck also passed along a quote from a general manager: "They're definitely bravely saying they won't trade him at this point. I definitely think it's the right thing to trade him. I think Danny knows it."
The Danny he is referring to is Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge.
This is the question that is going to dominate any and all talks about the Boston Celtics all season. They are not a serious contender even in the watered-down Eastern Conference, and they would probably be better off in the long term losing more games than they win this season to improve future draft positioning.
Getting rid of Rondo in a trade would certainly increase Boston's chances at losing the rest of the 2014-15 campaign and would also open up more playing time for rookie point guard Marcus Smart. If nothing else, it would provide an opportunity for Smart to pick up critical confidence and experience as a potential leader of the team.
Rondo also represents Boston's best chance to get a number of assets in return in any potential trade, be it draft considerations or young players.
The flip side of that is that Rondo is a unique talent who doesn't come around very often. He is still only 28 years old, and Boston could re-sign him as a franchise cornerstone and build a winner around his abilities. If it could add another young piece or two to a core of Rondo, Smart and Jared Sullinger, Boston could have a possible playoff team within a year or two.
Re-signing Rondo would in all likelihood require the Celtics (or any team) to give the point guard a max contract.
Regardless of the strategy the team takes, Rondo's early play has strengthened arguments for both positions.
He is spearheading a Boston attack that is third in the NBA in points per game with nightly averages of 10.4 points, 11.8 assists and eight rebounds. He is not exactly doing it with a team of All-Stars surrounding him, either.
His impressive play will help the team land more in return in any potential trade or help lure other players and free agents in if Boston decides to build around him in the future. Since there are multiple ways in which this situation could unfold, the Rondo saga will certainly be one of the most intriguing NBA storylines to follow for the rest of the season.
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