The Boston Celtics are still insisting that they want to keep Rajon Rondo, but Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders believe that the All-Star point guard will still be traded at some point in the upcoming 2014-15 NBA season.
Kennedy said in a recent NBA trade rumors 2015 chat session that the Celtics will get a lot of offers from several teams, including the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings.
The Knicks, Rockets and Mavericks are expected to be among the most likely landing spots for Rondo, who is reportedly looking for a team where he will have a good chance of winning another title.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in a recent interview that they still view Rondo as part of their long-term future, but Kennedy is convinced that Boston will be forced to trade the superstar playmaker because they could lose him for nothing via free agency next summer.
"I think Rajon Rondo will be traded," Kennedy wrote. "He wants to win now and the Celtics are clearly rebuilding, so I see them trading him for young players and draft picks rather than risk losing him for nothing offseason when he's a free agent."
The Celtics made it no secret that they will look to rebuild over the next several seasons. Kennedy reiterated that Rondo has a win-now mentality, which makes a trade in February highly likely unless the Celtics can strike a deal to acquire a big-name player, who could convince the 28-year-old point guard to sign a contract extension.
"Unless Boston is able to land a star player who would persuade Rajon Rondo to sign a new long-term deal, then Rondo is likely gone," Kennedy noted. "As I said earlier, he's at the stage of his career where he wants to contend and he's not going to be patient as Boston rebuilds with young guys. I don't think the two sides would part ways next summer, I think they would be parting ways in February before the trade deadline."
Rondo, who averaged 11.7 points to go along with 9.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds, will miss the start of the season due to a broken hand.
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