Guessing how many teams would kill to get Rondo

[BballTim]

Now, if Sacramento put Cousins and Evans on the table and Danny said no, he should be fired.

  Right, so after 5 or so years of ridiculing posters here who talk about bringing back any of the 2007 Celts because you want absolutely no part of that 24 win team you're saying Danny should be fired if he doesn't trade Rondo for, you guessed it, players from a 24 win team. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.

[LarBrd33]

BballTim, your Rondo obsession is a bit concerning, but I'm trying to gauge  how much you (over) value him. If Sacramento or New Orleans calls you and asks you to name your price, what is a fair return value for you to trade Rondo to each?

I don't even bother arguing with you about Rondo anymore and I'm certain others have quit too. You're too much of a Rondo apologist to have impartial thoughts on the matter. However, I am curious to hear your thoughts.

I like Tim.  He sticks to his guns.  I've had a ton of back and forth with him.  But I'm pretty sure he's on Ainge's payroll as social media propagandist... he's trying to keep the waning perception alive that Rondo is a superstar until Ainge can flip him for assets (cuz NBA GM's get their info from Celticsblog's message board, you see).  So hopefully Tim's response to this is, "I'd accept nothing less than LeBron James"... Tim is doing this for us and for that, I have nothing but admiration and respect for his impossible task.   Trust me, I'm a scientist.

  And I'm still impressed at the way you doggedly repeat your claims under the assumption that you'll single-handedly form a majority opinion.

Lol.  Tommy Point.

[LarBrd33]

As another person mentioned above...if Danny turned down an offer of Tyreke and Cousins for Rondo he should be fired.

I very seriously doubt Sac would offer that.

Basically if you look at our current team, our record clearly has not suffered since Rondo went out.  You can argue back and forth all you want about whether we are a better team without Rondo, but what you CAN'T argue about is that we have certainly played better since he got hurt.

That may or may not be a result of Rondo's absense, but the fact that his loss has not hurt us at all to this point suggests that his value to this team is nowhere near as high as a lot of people believe.

Out team right now is in the 6th seed in the East, and we're only 1.5 games behind Brooklyn for the 4th seed.  Before Rondo got hurt we were a couple of games OUTSIDE the top 8 and there was a real question as to whether we were even going to make the playoffs.  We have made this major push without Rondo - that is the fact of the matter.

If you have the talent to be a top 4 team in the East (as we obviously do right now based on our current record and streak) and then add two guys of the calibre of Tyreke Evans and Demarcus Cousins to that top-4 calibre team...and if you can add those guys without losing anybody from your current roster then I can't think of a single person in the league who doesn't list you as a serious title contender.

Now imagine (in hindsight) if we DID make this trade, and then we also traded Pierce for Josh Smith?

Suddenly you have a starting lineup of:

Bradley
Evans
Smith
Garnett
Cousins

And a bench of:

Terry
Jordan
Lee
Williams
Green
Bass
Wilcox
Melo

Only three guys (Wilcox, Terry, Garnett) on that team over 30 years of age, and you have a team who is a legit title contender this year and potentially for the next 10 years tha follow.   You save yourelf the need to ever go in to a full 'rebuild' mode...and when KG and Terry retire another $15M comes off your books.

So yes, Ainge would need to be the greatest bonehead in the history of GM's to not take that deal.  If it were ever offered I am pretty confident he would have taken it.

Evans for Cousins would be a steal.  I don't think Sac is dumb enough to do that... especially when half their roster is point guards already. Can't see it happening.

But if it did, I'd be more than comfortable leaving Bradley as the starting PG.  His defense at the position would be great. 

[Eddie20]

BballTim, your Rondo obsession is a bit concerning, but I'm trying to gauge  how much you (over) value him. If Sacramento or New Orleans calls you and asks you to name your price, what is a fair return value for you to trade Rondo to each?

I don't even bother arguing with you about Rondo anymore and I'm certain others have quit too. You're too much of a Rondo apologist to have impartial thoughts on the matter. However, I am curious to hear your thoughts.

  Fair return is someone who will play like one of the best players in the league in the playoffs. Who do you think fits the bill on Sac or NO?

You're slowly starting to come around since you used the disclaimer "in the playoffs". As you continue to make progress it soon might turn to "in the Finals". If Coach K had used the same criteria for selecting Team USA, then Rondo would certainly have made the team ahead of many players, including the Hornets Eric Gordon, who was ahead of Rondo on depth chart even prior to Rondo deciding to save face by bowing out.

[CelticConcourse]

Rondo is too underrated. Only we would trade an All-Star in his prime for DeMarcus and think we get a steal. Wowowowow.

[BballTim]

BballTim, your Rondo obsession is a bit concerning, but I'm trying to gauge  how much you (over) value him. If Sacramento or New Orleans calls you and asks you to name your price, what is a fair return value for you to trade Rondo to each?

I don't even bother arguing with you about Rondo anymore and I'm certain others have quit too. You're too much of a Rondo apologist to have impartial thoughts on the matter. However, I am curious to hear your thoughts.

  Fair return is someone who will play like one of the best players in the league in the playoffs. Who do you think fits the bill on Sac or NO?

You're slowly starting to come around since you used the disclaimer "in the playoffs". As you continue to make progress it soon might turn to "in the Finals". If Coach K had used the same criteria for selecting Team USA, then Rondo would certainly have made the team ahead of many players, including the Hornets Eric Gordon, who was ahead of Rondo on depth chart even prior to Rondo deciding to save face by bowing out.

  I've always maintained that being able to perform like one of the best players in the league in the playoffs is the most important thing that Rondo adds to our team. No matter who we go up against in the playoffs there's a fair chance Rondo will be the best player on the court for a given game. While I'm sure it thrills you that Rondo didn't play on team USA the fact that Gordon did Doesn't mean he's likely to outplay LeBron or Kobe in a given game and it doesn't mean he's likely to lead teams on deep playoff runs. Maybe you'll slowly come around to realizing that Rondo's been seen as one of the top performers in the league in multiple playoffs and players like that don't come around very often. I doubt it though.

[ejk3489]

Now, if Sacramento put Cousins and Evans on the table and Danny said no, he should be fired.

  Right, so after 5 or so years of ridiculing posters here who talk about bringing back any of the 2007 Celts because you want absolutely no part of that 24 win team you're saying Danny should be fired if he doesn't trade Rondo for, you guessed it, players from a 24 win team. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.

Not to mention repeatedly bringing up Rondo's huge ego and constant pouting, yet wouldn't hesitate to trade for a guy who leads the league in technical fouls(12), ejections(3), and suspensions(3).

Seriously though, what kind of headcase do you have to be to get ejected from an NBA game during halftime? Or for that matter, get in a fight with an NBA announcer because he was too critical of your game?

Oh, but the poor guy is stuck in Sacramento so it's not his fault. 

[BballTim]

Now, if Sacramento put Cousins and Evans on the table and Danny said no, he should be fired.

  Right, so after 5 or so years of ridiculing posters here who talk about bringing back any of the 2007 Celts because you want absolutely no part of that 24 win team you're saying Danny should be fired if he doesn't trade Rondo for, you guessed it, players from a 24 win team. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.

Not to mention repeatedly bringing up Rondo's huge ego and constant pouting, yet wouldn't hesitate to trade for a guy who leads the league in technical fouls(12), ejections(3), and suspensions(3).

Seriously though, what kind of headcase do you have to be to get ejected from an NBA game during halftime? Or for that matter, get in a fight with an NBA announcer because he was too critical of your game?

Oh, but the poor guy is stuck in Sacramento so it's not his fault. 

  People talk about wanting to get Cousins because he's a franchise big man. I've seen plenty of those players in my time, all of them showed me a lot more than he has at the same stage in their careers. Are we looking at the next Shaq/TD/Dwight? Doesn't look like it.

[Clench123]

Rondo is too underrated. Only we would trade an All-Star in his prime for DeMarcus and think we get a steal. Wowowowow.

That's the "intelligence" of the Celtics' fans for you

[xmuscularghandix]

These are the deals I would consider for Rondo. I hate on the dude, but i'm 70-80% positive that he'll come back with better play next season after watching his team improve in his absence.

Jazz- I'd send Rondo to Utah for a sign & trade with Al Jefferson.

Sac- I'd trade him for Evans and Cousins but I doubt that trade would be on the table.

PHO- I'd send him to The Suns for Gortat and Dudley. Dragic would be nice too but probably wouldn't be too happy with coming off the bench, and i would start him.

Lakers- I trade Rondo for Gasol without batting and eye, then I milk Gasol for his last 2 years alongside KG and Paul while Rondo recovers from his ACL tear. Pau has been mistreated in LA and could single handedly give the Celtics that next piece to keep them in the top tier of the East.

Bradley- Lee- Pierce- Gasol- KG
Terry- Williams- Green- Sullinger- (Wilcox, Bass, Melo)   <<<<- I'd ride with this team

[Atzar]

Rondo is too underrated. Only we would trade an All-Star in his prime for DeMarcus and think we get a steal. Wowowowow.

That's the "intelligence" of the Celtics' fans for you

It's getting to the point where you can't dismiss the run this team is going on without him.  It's not like they're beating up on the Charlottes of the league, either.  Many of the victories in this hot streak have been against very good teams who we need to be able to beat to have any chance of a run in the playoffs. 

I don't think Boston is a better team without him.  I can't ignore the fact that Rondo has put the Celtics on his back several times in the playoffs.  We gave the Heat their only real test last year, and Rondo and KG were the biggest reasons for that. 

Having said that, I do think he needs to reevaluate what he needs to do to help this team win games.  He developed some bad habits this year, and evidence is mounting that the ball-pounding, assist-padding, matador-defense-playing version of Rondo was hurting us more than he helped. 

[Eddie20]

BballTim, your Rondo obsession is a bit concerning, but I'm trying to gauge  how much you (over) value him. If Sacramento or New Orleans calls you and asks you to name your price, what is a fair return value for you to trade Rondo to each?

I don't even bother arguing with you about Rondo anymore and I'm certain others have quit too. You're too much of a Rondo apologist to have impartial thoughts on the matter. However, I am curious to hear your thoughts.

  Fair return is someone who will play like one of the best players in the league in the playoffs. Who do you think fits the bill on Sac or NO?

You're slowly starting to come around since you used the disclaimer "in the playoffs". As you continue to make progress it soon might turn to "in the Finals". If Coach K had used the same criteria for selecting Team USA, then Rondo would certainly have made the team ahead of many players, including the Hornets Eric Gordon, who was ahead of Rondo on depth chart even prior to Rondo deciding to save face by bowing out.

  I've always maintained that being able to perform like one of the best players in the league in the playoffs is the most important thing that Rondo adds to our team. No matter who we go up against in the playoffs there's a fair chance Rondo will be the best player on the court for a given game. While I'm sure it thrills you that Rondo didn't play on team USA the fact that Gordon did Doesn't mean he's likely to outplay LeBron or Kobe in a given game and it doesn't mean he's likely to lead teams on deep playoff runs. Maybe you'll slowly come around to realizing that Rondo's been seen as one of the top performers in the league in multiple playoffs and players like that don't come around very often. I doubt it though.

If Rondo cared half as much about the regular season as you do in defending him, then nobody would ever say we're better without him. 

[chambers]

I've always said to get Rondo I'd want at least something like:

DeMarcus Cousins+ Sacramentos lottery pick.

High risk/reward gamble plus a more controllable top 5 or 10 pick. I'd force them to take Bass too to make it happen.

[SHAQATTACK]

I've always said to get Rondo I'd want at least something like:

DeMarcus Cousins+ Sacramentos lottery pick.

High risk/reward gamble plus a more controllable top 5 or 10 pick. I'd force them to take Bass too to make it happen.

Well said....I think this is about as good chance to get a decent young big to replace KG as we'll get, unless DA tanks and Celtics go lottery for 5 years hoping to land a star talent.

Teams aren't going to give up as much BIG MAN player wise as celtic fans believe they can get for Rondo.   Bigs are too valuable.

[kozlodoev]

About how many teams would make a serious push for Rondo if he became available.

I'm pretty sure Rondo _is_ available for the right package as we speak. Problem is, noone is willing or able to offer the right package.