It's rare but guys get traded hurt. Normally when it's to a team that is lottery bound.
As recently as last year Bogut was traded to GS for Ellis. He missed the remainder of last season after the trade went through and the first half of this year.
Devin Harris was traded for Jason Kidd while hurt too I believe.
It is rare though
Antoine/LaFrenz.
Probably more than I can think of quickly.
Value is obviously down, but there is always a buyer when the price is right. It depends on what each team is trying to do.
It's not often stars get traded at all, maybe a couple per year at most, 1-2 transactions? That's what was really weird about getting Ray Allen (who was coming off surgery) AND KG at the same time while keeping Pierce. THAT was rare.
But we're talking about that happening in reverse: getting young, star talents in exchange for an established allstar. Getting back a Big Al and Gerald Green, plus filler.
So yeah, it's pretty rare. But the league is in a pretty weird place right now in terms of teams with batches of players, position logjams, etc. There seem to be quite a few teams that need to balance rotations.
Also, contracts are suddenly shorter, and adding payroll is generally harder. Shorter contracts make turnover opportunities increase through FA.
I think shorter contracts enable teams that are losing to make moves sooner than they used to, and salary crunches are happening or being foreseen, creating more activity all around.
An increase in trade activity might be another concession the union gave up in the CBA (less stability for players/families).
But yes, trading Rondo is certainly a possibility. They probably have quite a few offers, and perhaps a couple that aren't bad.