Insider - Chad Ford Thinks Rondo Most likely Notable Player Traded

[Kane3387]

Enjoy.

Impact Players Most Likely To Be Moved
(Ranked from most likely to least likely to be traded)


1. Rajon Rondo, G, Celtics
I know the Celtics are saying Rondo isn't going anywhere. But there are two problems with that. (1) It doesn't jibe with what a number of NBA GMs are saying based on conversations they've had with Celtics president Danny Ainge. (2) Ainge isn't stupid. He doesn't want to trade Rondo, but Rondo is the best chip he has to play right now.

If Ainge waits and does nothing, the Celtics will be a middling lottery team without much hope next season -- in the same spot where Ainge inherited them a few years ago. He doesn't want to go back there. If he can get two pieces back for Rondo, I think he'll do it. Atlanta, Portland and Indiana are interesting destinations if they are willing to pay.

[PosImpos]

Problem: what do Indiana, Atlanta, and Portland have that would be worth giving up Rondo?

Atlanta -- Smith is a nice player but our team isn't any better off with him and without Rondo.

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Indiana -- George? Granger? Collison? Hansbrough? Hibbert?  I'm guessing George and Hibbert are off the table.  Assuming that's true, I can't imagine what the Pacers could offer that would be worth it.

[indeedproceed]

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Boston Trades: Rajon Rondo
Portland Trades: Batum, Matthews, Elliot Williams

I know some people will say we're nuts to give up Rondo for 3 players who are currently projects/role players, and some other people will say that Portland wouldn't give up that package for Rondo when they have Crash/Felton to trade already. (FTR, I'd be in group B AND group A I think if I just saw it and didn't think of this on my own)

But 3 players, two of which are already capable starters on bargain deals has gotta pique your interest.

[PosImpos]

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Boston Trades: Rajon Rondo
Portland Trades: Batum, Matthews, Elliot Williams

I know some people will say we're nuts to give up Rondo for 3 players who are currently projects/role players, and some other people will say that Portland wouldn't give up that package for Rondo when they have Crash/Felton to trade already. (FTR, I'd be in group B AND group A I think if I just saw it and didn't think of this on my own)

But 3 players, two of which are already capable starters on bargain deals has gotta pique your interest.

I'd never give up Rondo for a player or players that haven't shown enough so far in their career to make me think that they'll ever be better or more valuable than Rondo.

Hence, the package you describe would not interest me one bit.

[csfansince60s]

Jazz and Lakers could use Rondo's talents even more than the teams Ford mentioned and have more assets they could give us.

[snively]

If the concern is that we'll be a middling lottery team next year, you trade Pierce.  He's the one who is the worst fit for a non-contending year due to his age and the one whose value will depreciate most rapidly.

[indeedproceed]

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Boston Trades: Rajon Rondo
Portland Trades: Batum, Matthews, Elliot Williams

I know some people will say we're nuts to give up Rondo for 3 players who are currently projects/role players, and some other people will say that Portland wouldn't give up that package for Rondo when they have Crash/Felton to trade already. (FTR, I'd be in group B AND group A I think if I just saw it and didn't think of this on my own)

But 3 players, two of which are already capable starters on bargain deals has gotta pique your interest.

I'd never give up Rondo for a player or players that haven't shown enough so far in their career to make me think that they'll ever be better or more valuable than Rondo.

Hence, the package you describe would not interest me one bit.

What about if I threw in a complementary Rod Strickland throwback?

[PosImpos]

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Boston Trades: Rajon Rondo
Portland Trades: Batum, Matthews, Elliot Williams

I know some people will say we're nuts to give up Rondo for 3 players who are currently projects/role players, and some other people will say that Portland wouldn't give up that package for Rondo when they have Crash/Felton to trade already. (FTR, I'd be in group B AND group A I think if I just saw it and didn't think of this on my own)

But 3 players, two of which are already capable starters on bargain deals has gotta pique your interest.

I'd never give up Rondo for a player or players that haven't shown enough so far in their career to make me think that they'll ever be better or more valuable than Rondo.

Hence, the package you describe would not interest me one bit.

What about if I threw in a complementary Rod Strickland throwback?

Doubtful.

[PosImpos]

If the concern is that we'll be a middling lottery team next year, you trade Pierce.  He's the one who is the worst fit for a non-contending year due to his age and the one whose value will depreciate most rapidly.

Agreed.  I don't buy that there aren't any teams willing to trade reasonably valuable pieces for Pierce.

[indeedproceed]

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Boston Trades: Rajon Rondo
Portland Trades: Batum, Matthews, Elliot Williams

I know some people will say we're nuts to give up Rondo for 3 players who are currently projects/role players, and some other people will say that Portland wouldn't give up that package for Rondo when they have Crash/Felton to trade already. (FTR, I'd be in group B AND group A I think if I just saw it and didn't think of this on my own)

But 3 players, two of which are already capable starters on bargain deals has gotta pique your interest.

I'd never give up Rondo for a player or players that haven't shown enough so far in their career to make me think that they'll ever be better or more valuable than Rondo.

Hence, the package you describe would not interest me one bit.

What about if I threw in a complementary Rod Strickland throwback?

Doubtful.

More of a Sabonis guy? Vintage Isiah Rider?

[snively]

Portland -- Wallace, Batum, Matthews, Felton?  Other than Aldridge, who I presume they aren't interested in trading, none of those names interests me.

Boston Trades: Rajon Rondo
Portland Trades: Batum, Matthews, Elliot Williams

I know some people will say we're nuts to give up Rondo for 3 players who are currently projects/role players, and some other people will say that Portland wouldn't give up that package for Rondo when they have Crash/Felton to trade already. (FTR, I'd be in group B AND group A I think if I just saw it and didn't think of this on my own)

But 3 players, two of which are already capable starters on bargain deals has gotta pique your interest.

Matthews is a bargain deal?  He's a decent player on a decent contract.  Batum is a bargain deal for exactly half a season.  Williams is a Jajuan Johnson level prospect.

[PosImpos]

More of a Sabonis guy? Vintage Isiah Rider?

Oo, Sabonis, that would be cool.

Matthews is a bargain deal?  He's a decent player on a decent contract.  Batum is a bargain deal for exactly half a season.  Williams is a Jajuan Johnson level prospect.

Well said.

[green7]

two trades that can help this team

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7ye98kn

i'm guessing they'll ask for picks if so no deal lol ^

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=3nf2e4s

+ clippers first round pick ^

[MBunge]

I think we're into the butt-covering phase of the Rondo trade talk.  Here's what happened.  Ainge has been talking with other GMs and has made it clear that Rondo is not untouchable, but that it would take a tremendous offer to get him.  Other GMs went scurrying to media types like Ford to stir up the Rondo talk, hoping that it would somehow put pressure on Ainge to do a deal for less than he wants.  Now Ainge ain't taking the the bait but Ford and others have to keep flogging the story to pretend they're not just tools of whomever feeds him information.

Here's my prediction.  Ainge has got a couple of trades on the table for some of the names we've heard like Beasley or Barbosa, but they're all low ball offers.  Something like JO and two 2nd round picks for Beasley.  Several teams also probably have standing trades for guys like Ray, Paul and Rondo, but they're also low ball offers.  Boston has 4 games before the trade deadline.  If the team either wins 4 in a row or loses 4 in a row and looks bad doing it, Ainge might be moved to either increase his trade offer or take what's being offered to him.  Mostly likely, though, Ainge is going to wait and unless another team meets his price, will just ride it out for the rest of the season and then start rebuilding.

Mike

[ssspence]

Indiana is a fit. See my trade thread from yesterday on the subject here:

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=54179.0

IP -- don't kill me for the San Antonio part! I'd submit a deal that includes Ray to Indiana has merit if their going to push Rondo there.... something like this:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=88ssw9y