[HitsterParticipant]

 With all the media interest around Kobe and Rondo having a get together over breakfast late last week, it seems to have put Rondo firmly back on the trade market according to the media.

The Celtics went into rebuild in 2013 when KG and PP were traded and Doc Rivers moved on. Danny Ainge got a great deal for KG and PP and then recruited one of the best young college coaches in Brad Stevens to replace Doc Rivers.

Ainge did a canny deal to get Tyler Zeller and a pick from the Cavs, recent draft picks Sullinger and Olynk look good pick ups too and Marcus Smart was considered a solid draft pick although he has yet to adjust to the NBA. So Ainge is putting the pieces in place to rebuild the Celtics.

But after 5 successive Divisional Titles from 2008-2012, two Conference titles and the 2008 NBA title, the Celtic fans had got used to winning again after many lean years post Bird era. With Ainge having put together the big 3 in 2008, a lot of fans may be looking for him to do the same again as that was his most successful GM move after not really rebuilding them too well via the draft. 

The Celtics are big market/ traditional powerhouse team and with Rondo in place, some decent young talent and multiple picks then Ainge had the tools to rebuild via trade market. However it looks like he is rebuilding via the draft this time at least initially.

Rondo will be 29 years old soon and next summer may be his last chance at a mega deal and having been on a contender most of his career may not want to spend the next few years as part of a rebuild. Also Rondo has had two injury hit seasons so is only now getting his best run of games for successive years.

However his scoring has dropped to single figures this year for the first time since his rookie year but he still remains one of the very top table of creative PG’s in the NBA and an All Star lockin at his best. With the injury issues, his scoring slump, his contract running down then his trade value is decreasing mainly due to contract running down I’ll emphasise.

So Danny Ainge has to decide does he see Rondo as a career Celtic who they will rebuild around or does he try to cash in on him, tank this year ensure a good draft pick along with whatever assets he’d get for Rondo.

Teams may not offer great deals to get Rondo now when they can try to get him next summer. But he will still have good trade value as he is an elite player and any team signing him via a trade has the chance to give him a 5 year deal and would have 6 months plus to convince him to resign with them. Plus other teams who may not have trade assets to tempt Boston would be viable FA players for Rondo.

Boston can make a pitch to Rondo and out of respect for the team if they told him they considered him a key player going forward, I doubt he’d push for a trade. Boston should have cap space next summer so Rondo could play out the season, see what Ainge does in the draft and when FA market opens and then decide.

After nearly a decade in Boston, I would hope that Ainge and Rondo would be open with each other about what their long term plans are, I don’t mean committing to stay or clearly saying we won’t resign you but knowing what each other is thinking and acting accordingly.

Rondo walking away for nothing or staying put and the rebuild not proceeding and his later peak years being wasted is no good for either side. If they think an extension could be reached in FA then he stays put, if not then ask Rondo who he would likely resign for and look at trade deals with them. If Rondo is likely to resign for his new team then Ainge can drive a harder trade bargain. Rondo gets a team of choice, chance of 5 year deal and the Celtics get a decent package for Rondo.

Back to the Lakers, if they did make a move for Rondo then a trade would need some figuring out. I’d guess that the Celtics would want Julius Randle as any part of a trade, Jordan Hill might be considered but with the Celtics having several young bigs this is unlikely. The Lakers have Nash and Lin’s expiring deals and I’d guess Boston would want to shift Crash Wallace’s deal too. Lakers might push for Jeff Green too allowing Boston to really tank.

The Lakers possibly owe their 2015 first rounder to Phoenix, still owe a first rounder to Orlando as part of D12/Iggy/Bynum trade I believe but got a first rounder back from Houston for signing Lin. I’m sure Ainge would push for a first rounder at least to be included.

Boston would then be in full rebuild mode with picks and expiring deals. Celtics have Rondo alongside Kobe with the hope to get another top FA next summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Deal for Kobe using young guys and a pick or two. Makes more sense. Boston is in a better state as a team than tye Lakers. Better young talent and a lot of picks. They could get Kobe and still have picks to spare once the deal is done. In the East they would be good. Rondo to LA makes little sense unless they get another Star. Rondo and Kobe at 37 are not a playoff team out west with what LA has.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Deal for Kobe using young guys and a pick or two. Makes more sense. Boston is in a better state as a team than tye Lakers. Better young talent and a lot of picks. They could get Kobe and still have picks to spare once the deal is done. In the East they would be good. Rondo to LA makes little sense unless they get another Star. Rondo and Kobe at 37 are not a playoff team out west with what LA has.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 There is no need to give up any assets for Rondo from a Lakers perspective.  If he wants to be a Laker, he can become one this off season where they would have room for a max.  Really, I can’t think of any incentive for the Lakers to give up anything for Rondo.  

The max that the Lakers can offer in the offseason isn’t a true max, it’s just the max they can offer.  Which would look a lot better going forward once the TV money raises the cap.  As opposed to trading for Rondo’s rights and allowing him to sign a true 5 year max… which to me looks a lot less appealing.

I think if they Celtics really wanted to move him and get something in return, at this point they should target the Kings or the Knicks.  Everybody knows he’s going to be a FA, the Celtics have lost a lot of leverage at this point.

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 There is no need to give up any assets for Rondo from a Lakers perspective.  If he wants to be a Laker, he can become one this off season where they would have room for a max.  Really, I can’t think of any incentive for the Lakers to give up anything for Rondo.  

The max that the Lakers can offer in the offseason isn’t a true max, it’s just the max they can offer.  Which would look a lot better going forward once the TV money raises the cap.  As opposed to trading for Rondo’s rights and allowing him to sign a true 5 year max… which to me looks a lot less appealing.

I think if they Celtics really wanted to move him and get something in return, at this point they should target the Kings or the Knicks.  Everybody knows he’s going to be a FA, the Celtics have lost a lot of leverage at this point.

 

 

 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 What would they get from the Kings? There is nothing there. Leverage is not loss when he is damn near averaging a triple double. You resign him or see who is desperate around trade deadline. Celtics are better of keeping him and paying him. When athleticism goes he is a Stockton type player wich allows longevity. He plays with his brain. I think the Celtics keep him unless a serious deal comes along involving a all star or the celtics just plummet from playoff picture. They are a game out in the east and the east sucks. They are actually a player or two away from competing in the east.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 What would they get from the Kings? There is nothing there. Leverage is not loss when he is damn near averaging a triple double. You resign him or see who is desperate around trade deadline. Celtics are better of keeping him and paying him. When athleticism goes he is a Stockton type player wich allows longevity. He plays with his brain. I think the Celtics keep him unless a serious deal comes along involving a all star or the celtics just plummet from playoff picture. They are a game out in the east and the east sucks. They are actually a player or two away from competing in the east.

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