Rajon Rondo is back from a one-year layoff but it is widely believed that his days in Boston are already numbered with reports suggesting that the Celtics will trade the returning point guard.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge previously quashed talks about potential trades involving Rondo, but majority of NBA teams believe that Boston will eventually deal the All-Star point guard.
The Celtics are expected to listen to offers as the trade deadline approaches. And if they don't get a package that could help them rebuild faster, sources said that that the Celtics will continue to shop the 27-year-old point guard in the offseason prior to the highly-anticipated 2014 NBA Draft.
"Rondo is the last blue chip from the 2008 championship team and 2010 Finals team that Celtics president Danny Ainge can convert into assets as he rebuilds the franchise," Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reported.
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The New York Knicks are viewed as the strongest suitor of Rondo as previous rumors suggested that the team will look to build a title-contending roster around Rondo and All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.
But aside from the Knicks, Sam Amico of Fox Sports speculated that the Minnesota Timberwolves will be aggressive in trying to acquire Rondo either before the deadline or next summer.
The Timberwolves are expected to make splash either through trades or free agency in order to convince All-Star power forward Kevin Love to stay in Minnesota beyond his contract that is set to expire after the 2014-15 NBA season.
Amico pointed out that the Celtics and the Timberwolves could work out a trade involving Rondo and Ricky Rubio. The Celtics are expected to ask the Timberwolves to include future picks to make the deal work for both clubs.
"Rondo is still viewed as a top-five point guard. And from the sounds of things, the Timberwolves may need to make a splash soon if they hope to keep All-Star forward Kevin Love. Acquiring Rondo in a package involving Ricky Rubio could possibly benefit both clubs," Amico noted.
Aside from the Timberwolves, Amico named the Houston Rockets as another attractive landing spot. Rondo would certainly love to play alongside James Harden and Dwight Howard, but it remains to be seen what the Rockets are willing to give up for Rondo.
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