[NCarmean18Participant]

The Boston Celtics, who already have one of the best point guards in the NBA, are interested in making an upgrade by acquiring the New Orleans Hornets‘ Chris Paul and would be willing to give up Rondo to get him, sources have told ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

 

The sources say the Celtics are having internal discussions regarding a swap of marquee point guards.

According to an SI.com report, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is "highly motivated" to land Paul. The report says the Hornets don’t appear interested in a two-team deal in which Rondo and Paul would switch places. So Ainge has been trying to find a third team to get involved.

Paul can become a free agent after this season, so the Celtics also would have to convince him to sign an extension with them before giving up Rondo, who has four years and approximately $46 million left on his contract.

Paul was asked earlier Tuesday at a charity event in New York City about speculation that he could soon leave the Hornets.

"I try not to pay attention to all that different type of stuff," Paul said. "My heart is in New Orleans."

This would not be the first time the Celtics have looked into trading Rondo for another point guard.

After last season’s playoffs, the Celtics offered Rondo and Jeff Green to Oklahoma City for Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins, sources have told Broussard. The Celtics, looking for another scorer who can create his own offense, thought Westbrook might be available after his erractic postseason play. But Oklahoma was not interested in the deal.

Rondo averaged 10.6 points and 11.2 assists last season, while Paul averaged 15.8 per game (a career low) and 9.8 assists.

 

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 statistics don’t reveal all the truth… rondo is a better defensive player, one of the most important attribute of this team (almost a philosophy). 

I don’t think that’s a good idea to destruct that to bring a name (even if paul is a fantastic player)…

therefore paul should earn lot’s of money (nearly 20M $ a year) whereas rondo is a bargain (10M $ that year – 13M $ in 2015)

[OhCanada-Participant]

You cant market Rondo like you can market Paul. Not even close. Paul in Boston for 5 years makes them a ton of money, Finals appearance or not.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I do agree that Rondo is the better defender, even with Paul’s ability to get as many steals. With that being said, do you have any idea how much he would help the Celtics offensively? He can actually shoot the ball! If you roll under a pick, you will die. Can not say even close to the same thing about Rondo. Plus, what are they saving with Rondo? I feel like the Celtics have fallen behind teams like Miami and Chicago.

If they could trade Rondo for Chris Paul, not only would that more than likely help them once Ray Allen, KG and Paul Pierce decide to retire, but I really think they would be entirely more competitive in their quest for a ring. Rondo is not an exponentially better defender than Chris Paul, even if he is better. I think Paul is an exponentially more complete offensive player, which would do wonders for the Celtics.

However, to me, these trades sound like a bunch of garbage. Why would OKC want Jeff Green back? Of course the Celtics would want Chris Paul for Rondo, though. I think the key is whether Chris Paul wants to play their or whether he thinks another team has a better long term chance of being competitive. I still think that Paul has his eye on New York. But, if he agreed to sign a long term deal with the Celtics, I think he would absolutely be worth it if they felt like they were still in the hunt for a ring this season. With Paul, I think they have a much better chance at making it past round 2, which, if you all remember, they did not last year.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

I see what is appealing with chris paul… of course he’s better than rondo. 

But he”d cost maybe twice more : the salary cap won’t raise, you have to extend jeff green and find a center… You have to think about that.

Paul had serious injuries (he’s older) and even if he’s maketable (so much more than rondo) he has not been drafted and developped in boston (and he wasn’t a major part of the chanpionship team). Team chemistry is important too to succeed and past round 2 …

[joecheck88Participant]

I see where they are coming from. I think Russell Westbrook would be a better fit for Boston tho. And rindo makes sense for OKC too as they have Durant and Harden to score. Paul in Boston would work but Paul isn’t the kind of scorer they need. Plus, he is oft injured and a little older.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

I think the Billups/Fields/Walker and Cash get it done…The Knicks will have to find acouple draft picks from somewhere too…But I think we should have seen these type of desperation trade offers come to light…I think it’s up to CP3 at this point…His two best friends are in New York looking up at the Bulls and Heat, they can either get owned in the playoffs for the a few years or MAke a move to bring in CP3(who wants to play there any way…)

Any other CP3 overtures are pointless because he’s going where he’s heart desires,. and It’s in New York, not New Orleans as he said in the Interview…Any Boston/LA or Orlando trade talks can float around all year and it wont make a difference to Paul, he’ll just play out his contract, reject any extension they put in front of him and wait out the Billups contracts in NY thus signing with his prefered team…

People keep forgetting about Paul’s connection with Melo and Amare and that Boston would be facing them 4 times every regular season and 4 to 7 games in the Playoffs…A Team I think could be a sleeper target for Paul is the Detroit Piston’s…somehow I think A Brandon Knight/Greg Monroe/Rip Hamilton package sounds nice for Paul…

[joecheck88Participant]

How can you say the Clippers package of Aminu, Bledsoe, plus the Wolves top 10 pick and the clippers 1st round pick isn’t enough but an old Billups, role players in fields and Walker plus cash and worse picks could get him to NY? I don’t see that logic man.

[Jlv2011]

 a team of old superstars.  Sounds like a great idea.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

It’s kinda funny, most people on this board seem to think of Rondo as a top 5 PG in the league but Boston is clearly looking to upgrade the position and value Westbrook higher. Being able to create your own shot at the PG spot is often considered more important in this league right now than passing and defensive ability.

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot could depend on whether CP3 actually asks for a trade before the next trade deadline, that is maybe only 2 and a half months away unless the NBA move it back. The Knicks have no real assets left and NOH could get better deals than the Knicks but if CP3 sets his sights on NY then maybe the Knicks could get the deal done before CP3 reaches Free Agency and thus NOH maybe get something back. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Lmao. 

He kills the Clippers’ offer of Kaman and his expiring deal, a 2012 unprotected first round pick from the T-Wolves and a couple of young prospects in Bledsoe and Aminu for Paul, but says an old vet in Billups, a solid prospect in Landry, a old knees athlete in Walker, some cash and a couple of random picks is???

[NbanflguyParticipant]

This deal is dead because Paul would not sign an extension in Boston

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/7297944/new-orleans-hornets-chris-paul-sign-boston-celtics-dealt-source-says

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I don’t blame him… Boston’s core is old. He’d be by himself again in no time.

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