What you'd want is a youngish player who, if you aren't facing LeBron or Durant, would have at least a 50/50 chance of being the best player in a playoff series. You want multiple players that are either almost as good or better in the playoffs than Rondo to have a good shot at a title. They aren't that easy to come by, and most teams don't trade them unless they're aging or demand a trade or threaten to leave when their contracts end. You generally don't get rid of them for cap relief or a group of good but not great assets.
So Tim, would you trade him for a top 3 pick this year? Top 5?
If you had a crystal ball and you knew you could get one of Wiggins, Parker or Embid.. would you do it?
I probably wouldn't trade him until after Melo and Lebron/Bosh opt out and see what Danny can come up with.
I'd also talk to him about re-signing and going hard after Marc Gasol and some other stars in 15-16. Get him to promise that he won't leave under the mutual understanding that if we can't get him some decent help by the 2016 season that we'll deal him to a team of his choice (or at least try).
Of course that's easier said than done so if there are no promises or guarantees then you've got to trust Danny's instincts if he decides Rondo might walk or the trade market is just not there.
It's going to be VERY hard to find teams to give up Love or Durant or Carmelo. We've got to hope the Knicks implode further and Carmelo has a real reason to leave, or the Heat implode and Bosh/Lebron look for greener pastures. It's going to be very tough and I hope CBer's understand this.
The KG+Ray trade was so lucky.
If we do trade him I'd basically do whatever it took to get a top 5 pick back for him. We could take on salary and get more goodies in return.
Move Rondo for a top 5 pick and bad contract.
Move Green and Bradley for more picks.
Keep Sully and maybe Olynyk and let us rebuild around him.
I'd only trade him for a top 5 pick + young assets and salary to match.
ie: Draft night and we know Sacramento has the 5th pick.
Sacramento's unprotected first +
Mclemore +
another pick + salary fillers.
for Rondo + Bass.
Remember the most important two parts for Danny to get maximum value out of Rondo are:
1) His health
2) that he is moved before we begin an obvious 'blow it up' rebuild, because then his value probably takes a hit in our desperation to tank.
Both those factors are still in play so who knows what's gonna happen.
