Chad Ford on SportsCenter talking about the Rondo Ray offer to Detroit

[ssspence]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4280665&categoryid=2459788

Ford can be inflamatory, but he certainly digs hard, does have sources and a pretty good finger on the pulse. Interesting that he says a) he just spoke with the Pistons, and b) they're laughing it off. In a way I can see the 'core of our team' arguement, but if that's their core, they're not very good -- which of course they're not.

Here's what he says in his Draft Buzz column:

"I think it's time to quit dismissing all those Rajon Rondo trade rumors. A source in Detroit says the Pistons were approached by a lower-level Celtics executive who offered Ray Allen and Rondo for Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey.

The Pistons, of course, said no to the deal -- Rondo's great, but he's not worth the entire core of the Pistons. But that's not the news. It's becoming harder and harder for the Celtics to deny that they are looking to move Rondo. His name has come up in rumors with the Suns and Kings. I know Danny Ainge has brushed them off and says the Celtics probably will do nothing, but where there's smoke …"


The point about smoke =ing fire though is fair. Especially if it's true that the Cs are making the phone calls. When Danny says, 'the first thing you need to ask is, will the rumor give us an opportunity of winning next year', that is NOT a denial of the offer to Detroit, nor of other talked about offers -- even the one to SAC for the 4th pick and Jason Thompson. He also put in his Draft Buzz column they're open to parting with Ray for the 5th pick.

I just don't follow this -- it seems strange to go through such a sea change when it seems very little needs to be changed in order to win again with this group next year.

[JSD]

Good find TP. I think it's pretty clear the Celtics are exploring Rondo deals before he is due for an extension after next season.

[Chris]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

[winsomme]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

yeah, I agree this only has to do with trying to sell high...it has absolutely nothing to do with Rondo being a problem on the team. That's just speculation that gets better headlines than the actual reasons.

the thing that worries me is the possibility that DA thinks Rip, Stuckey and Prince is the right fish.....That deal would make me very unhappy.

[ssspence]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

Agreed, the bloom is off this rose when the denials aren't really denials. The question becomes: leaving aside detriot (not happening) and PHX (bad deal), what deals are worth doing?

[Birdbrain]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

Agreed, the bloom is off this rose when the denials aren't really denials. The question becomes: leaving aside detriot (not happening) and PHX (bad deal), what deals are worth doing?

Ok just for arguments sake:


Ainge: "I'm not sure why his is popping up, but we love Rajon. It doesn't seem like you have to have any source any more (to report rumors)."

Is this a denial to you and if not be honest he could have said I'll trade Rondo over my dead body and you would have said that's ' GM speak ' for Rondo better get packing.

[Chris]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

yeah, I agree this only has to do with trying to sell high...it has absolutely nothing to do with Rondo being a problem on the team. That's just speculation that gets better headlines than the actual reasons.

the thing that worries me is the possibility that DA thinks Rip, Stuckey and Prince is the right fish.....That deal would make me very unhappy.

See, I actually think that is a very good deal, because it brings two younger guys in their prime, making reasonable money, and who know how to win, along with a young guy with star potential.  But I am scared in general of any move Danny makes, just because we simply have no idea how the players will blend together.

[ssspence]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

Agreed, the bloom is off this rose when the denials aren't really denials. The question becomes: leaving aside detriot (not happening) and PHX (bad deal), what deals are worth doing?

Ok just for arguments sake:


Ainge: "I'm not sure why his is popping up, but we love Rajon. It doesn't seem like you have to have any source any more (to report rumors)."

Is this a denial to you and if not be honest he could have said I'll trade Rondo over my dead body and you would have said that's ' GM speak ' for Rondo better get packing.

Where in this statement does he deny their shopping him? Did he come out and say their not testing his value? of course not. i don't expect him to, but the question is being dodged because his name comes up every other day!

by the way, since when do nba reporters sight their source on trade rumors? they'd never get another tip aagin if they did...

[Roy Hobbs]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

Agreed, the bloom is off this rose when the denials aren't really denials. The question becomes: leaving aside detriot (not happening) and PHX (bad deal), what deals are worth doing?

Ok just for arguments sake:


Ainge: "I'm not sure why his is popping up, but we love Rajon. It doesn't seem like you have to have any source any more (to report rumors)."

Is this a denial to you and if not be honest he could have said I'll trade Rondo over my dead body and you would have said that's ' GM speak ' for Rondo better get packing.

Here's how the Globe reported it:

When asked about the rumor this morning during a press conference at the team's facility in Waltham, Ainge did not offer a denial of the specific report, but strongly indicated he does not expect to deal Rondo, the remarkably talented but erratic 23-year-old point guard.

"We love Rajon and I'm not going to comment on which rumors are true or not true," said Ainge, the Celtics' president of basketball operations. "We love this kid and I don't anticipate trading anyone from our core."

According to Wojnarowski, Ainge and Detroit general manager Joe Dumars never discussed the deal. Instead, Ainge delegated making the proposal to another Celtics executive over the weekend. When Detroit immediately rejected the proposal, there was no reason for Ainge and Dumars to discuss the deal.

While Ainge did not deny that Rondo's name comes up in trade conversations -- "We've had discussions, but there's discussions every day," he said -- he suggested it would be difficult to get a player in return who could help the Celtics win immediately.

"If you look at a trade rumor and if you think it makes us a better team and helps us to win a championship this year, that's the first criteria that any trade rumor has to pass -- that it has to help us win the championship this year," he said.

To me, that's different that an outright denial that Rondo's name has come up in proposals initiated by the Celtics.

[Birdbrain]

Sure either that or they are made up by say like Detroit maybe...

[timepiece33]

I have no doubt that Danny has talked Rondo in a deal, but I do have reservations if any of the packages being mentioned are anything more than trade checker versions of trades based on loose information.

BTW, I don't believe Stuckey is anywhere near Rondo ... Prince is overpaid for what he gives you ... and Ray has diminished less than Rip over the years.  This trade makes no sense.

[JSD]

Rips contract is now terrible... What the hell was Dumars thinking with this extension? He turned a great, tradeable asset into a liability IMO.

[Birdbrain]

I have no doubt that Danny has talked Rondo in a deal, but I do have reservations if any of the packages being mentioned are anything more than trade checker versions of trades based on loose information.

BTW, I don't believe Stuckey is anywhere near Rondo ... Prince is overpaid for what he gives you ... and Ray has diminished less than Rip over the years.  This trade makes no sense.

Total agreeance.  I guess my main bone of contention with the Rondo trade rumors is that we seem to be the  'taker' not the 'giver' and with in IMO the best player in the deal we better get overpaid which leads me to believe their isn't fire with this smoke.

Do I think people have contacted Ainge about Rondo, of course.

[ssspence]

Rips contract is now terrible... What the hell was Dumars thinking with this extension? He turned a great, tradeable asset into a liability IMO.

totally agree. tp.

[CoachBo]

I think its naive to think that the C's are not shopping Rondo.  However, judging by a lot of the rumors, they are not looking to give him away either.

I really think Danny sees he has a package similar to the package he gave up for Garnett.  He knows that after this year, this package will no longer be available to him, so he wants to throw it out there, and see what he can get for it.  I don't think there is any desperation to make a move, but if the right fish bites, he will pull the trigger.  

This is going to be an interesting summer.

Agreed, the bloom is off this rose when the denials aren't really denials. The question becomes: leaving aside detriot (not happening) and PHX (bad deal), what deals are worth doing?

Ok just for arguments sake:


Ainge: "I'm not sure why his is popping up, but we love Rajon. It doesn't seem like you have to have any source any more (to report rumors)."

Is this a denial to you and if not be honest he could have said I'll trade Rondo over my dead body and you would have said that's ' GM speak ' for Rondo better get packing.

Here's how the Globe reported it:

When asked about the rumor this morning during a press conference at the team's facility in Waltham, Ainge did not offer a denial of the specific report, but strongly indicated he does not expect to deal Rondo, the remarkably talented but erratic 23-year-old point guard.

"We love Rajon and I'm not going to comment on which rumors are true or not true," said Ainge, the Celtics' president of basketball operations. "We love this kid and I don't anticipate trading anyone from our core."

According to Wojnarowski, Ainge and Detroit general manager Joe Dumars never discussed the deal. Instead, Ainge delegated making the proposal to another Celtics executive over the weekend. When Detroit immediately rejected the proposal, there was no reason for Ainge and Dumars to discuss the deal.

While Ainge did not deny that Rondo's name comes up in trade conversations -- "We've had discussions, but there's discussions every day," he said -- he suggested it would be difficult to get a player in return who could help the Celtics win immediately.

"If you look at a trade rumor and if you think it makes us a better team and helps us to win a championship this year, that's the first criteria that any trade rumor has to pass -- that it has to help us win the championship this year," he said.

To me, that's different that an outright denial that Rondo's name has come up in proposals initiated by the Celtics.

Indeed it is. TP. Pretty clear the name has been tossed around out there. Fine. Nothing wrong with kicking tires, and sending messages.