by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
Rajon Rondo is reportedly on the trading block once again. In related news, the sun rose in the East this morning.
With trade rumors swirling, Rondo led the Boston Celtics to victory last night, while recording a triple double along the way (his third of the season.)
According to ESPN, the C’s front-office no longer wants Rajon largely because of his off-the-court attitude:
The Celtics find Rondo’s personality to be too high-maintenance and his clashes with coach Doc Rivers remain an off-court distraction, sources said, and the front office is now actively pitching him to other teams. With the Celtics realizing they are no longer title contenders, they don’t believe his point guard prowess is worth the headaches Rondo brings, sources say. And they do not want to build around him.
In December, the Celtics had discussions with Golden State about a Stephen Curry-for-Rondo deal, and one source says it was Golden State that decided against pulling the trigger. But Curry’s recent ankle injuries, which have caused him several problems in his short career, have given the Celtics pause. The potential trade is still being discussed by Boston’s braintrust, but they aren’t sure they want to go forward with it. It also isn’t clear whether the Warriors would be willing to do it. Other players would have to be thrown in to make it work financially.
Danny Ainge acknowledged earlier this season that Rondo’s name came up in trade talks when the Celtics tried to acquire Chris Paul from the Hornets, but he said he wasn’t shopping Rondo per se and that his name came up only because Ainge was trying to add a player of Paul’s caliber. “I was not trying to trade Rajon Rondo,” Ainge told Boston sports radio WEEI in January. “There’s a big difference between trying to acquire a player and trying to trade a player.” If the Celtics are now actively shopping Rondo, it would seem to be a change of course.
GM Danny Ainge has been very upfront about wanting to shake things up, and these trade rumors only add fuel to the rampant speculation that this is the current team’s last run together.
The Boston Celtics climbed back up to .500 with their win over the Milwaukee Bucks last night, and Rajon Rondo was the catalyst. He’s also, apparently, no longer wanted. What a strange, depressing season this has been so far in Beantown.
