NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics Must Acquire Chris Paul for Sake of Future

Another team is interested in Chris Paul, only it's one we've heard before.

Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald is reporting that the Celtics are still interested in acquiring Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. 

For the sake of the future of the team, they had better get him.

Currently, the team's four best players are Ray Allen (36), Kevin Garnett (35), Paul Pierce (34) and Rajon Rondo (25). What stands out about Rondo? 

Looking ahead, he is the only one who has a long-term future in the NBA, let alone with the Celtics. Allen, Garnett and Pierce are all going to the Hall of Fame, but are all clearly in the final years of their careers.

But now, according to Bulpett anyway, the Celtics are still interested in getting Paul. Paul is 26 and a better player than Rondo, so if they get him, it's an improvement. But them getting him and then signing him to a long-term contract are two huge ifs. 

How is Rondo supposed to react to an offseason of hearing his name thrown about in trade rumors? Here we are, a day removed from the actual period of free agency and trading beginning, and there's another one for anyone to see. 

If you were in Rondo's shoes, is this an organization that you would want to stay with? I really want to know what people think. 

For me, it's hard to imagine anyone in Rondo's position wanting to stay with a team that doesn't want him around.

Yes, these are rumors. It is important that we remember that. This isn't Danny Ainge or Doc Rivers coming out and saying that they are looking to replace Rondo, but rumors come from somewhere.

Rondo is the only player on the Celtics with any kind of significant future as an NBA player. Right now, it doesn't look good that that future will be in Boston. 

So, the Celtics had better get Paul and lock him up. If they don't, the future is going to be bleak for the historical franchise in Boston.