What would you want back for Rondo?

[connor]

Before I start I'd just like to say that I don't think the Celtics should trade Rondo (I think he can work with the current group of guys when he comes back and is a talent I would love to build around once KG and PP are gone), but I have a lot of fun talking trade scenarios etc. And there seems to be a lot of discussion about just what return Rondo could realistically bring back to the Celtics.

I've heard people say there are plenty of trades out there, but I only see a few possible destinations, so I'd like to hear any I've missed.

So here is the hypothetical situation:
Danny decides to move Rondo this offseason following a respectable playoff run. Assume KG and PP decide to come back for another run together. What SPECIFIC and REALISTIC trades would you be willing to make for Rondo?

I don't want this to devolve into another debate about Rondo's value to the Celtics like the other threads. ASSUME that Rondo WILL BE TRADED, the decision has already been made, now we are just trying to get back the best return for him.

Explain WHY it would make sense for the Celtics AND why it would make sense for the other team. It can be a trade where we get the better end of the deal, but you have to explain why the other team would even consider it, otherwise its just pointless. Also it doesn't need to be a straight up trade for Rondo it can include other Celtics and be a multi-team trade, just try to keep it realistic. SO:

What would you want back for Rondo?

[connor]

I'll kick it off with one of the more unoriginal ideas that has been kicked around in one form or the other for ages now that I think kind of sets the bar for what we would expect back for Rondo:

Boston Receives:
Demarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans (sign and trade), Isaiah Thomas

Sacremento Receives:
Rajon Rondo, Fab Melo

Why Celtics would do it:
Obviously Cousins is the centerpiece and would solve a lot of our front court problems. His size combined with his scoring and rebounding ability would provide a completely new dimension to our game. And hopefully KG can straighten him out a bit. I know they say he is not available, but I think they would reconsider if moving to Seattle and Rondo was on the table.
Evans provides a scoring punch, although his game hasn't evolved since his ROY campaign. The Celtics have shown that they don't need a true PG to create assists, so his game could fit in well with the new ball movement oriented system and he could be effective if he has a better shot selection. And Isaiah Thomas is a ball handler who has been playing well this season. The Celtics can try to incorporate him off the bench on a team that will be lacking a pure PG (and it frees them up to try to move Terry or Lee for a pick or assets).

Cousins is the real prize and Boston could try to bring in a 3rd team interested in getting Evans for a guy who fits the Celtics system better or is more of a pure PG (Kyle Lowry maybe?)

Why Sacramento would do it:
For the notoriously stingy Kings, who just traded their most recent lottery pick in a pure salary dump move, they would be getting a perennial all-star in Rondo for the same amount of money that they would have to shell out to retain a considerably inferior Evans (who will be in line for 9-12 million a year in free agency). They'd probably prefer to include Evans in a sign and trade than their lottery pick (which will come a lot cheaper on a rookie deal). Yes they have to give up Cousins, but he has been such a headache for this organization and doesn't show any sign of improving (ejected AGAIN last night?!). So to turn him into a franchise player and legit superstar in Rondo would be welcomed. Plus he is a much more appealing building block if they are moving back to Seattle.

And the very raw Fab Melo serves as a nice trade kicker to soften the blow of losing their front court power. With Rondo and their cap room they could potentially be a player for Josh Smith or others in free agency and Rondo is a better draw than Evans and Cousins combined. 

[CelticConcourse]

Nobody.

[CoachBo]

That's a deal I would certainly pursue and make.

The answer to your question is a young big with potential. I am not sold - despite the ball freezing yesterday in the fourth quarter in a manner very similar to the pre-injury problems this offense had - that we must get a point guard in a Rondo deal. Basically, I have been happy with the distribution of the basketball.

My fear, of sorts, is that Rondo simply doesn't command that kind of value in the league market - and that the best Ainge could do is an older big, of the Gasol variety.

There's certainly anecdotal evidence out there suggesting that the league isn't nearly as impressed with Rondo as some posters on this board are.

And for the record, I don't agree with you on the trade. I completely support moving Rondo. He is the most valuable asset on the team, pretty clearly in my view not a foundational player to build a rebuilding effort around and the most likely to bring back significant assets back in return to rebuild on the fly.

[BballTim]

  Maybe it's just me but when I see the Kings play I don't think to myself "now *that's* the group of players I want to be rooting for after PP and KG retire".

[kozlodoev]

Established star big man, or multiple young studs and picks. Neither is happening.

[wdleehi]

A bigger build around guy. 


At one point, it could have been Cousins.  Now, forget about him. 



The problem is the PG position has become too strong in the NBA.  Unless the PG is a number 1 type of scorer (Paul, Rose, Westbrook or Williams before this season), I don't think teams are going to trade equal larger talent. 



This is why I think the Celtics are most likely to keep Rondo going forward.  They just are not going to get the trade value they need for him. 

[CelticG1]

Established star big man, or multiple young studs and picks. Neither is happening.

Yeah if we arent getting that I dont see the point in making a trade

[Bankshot]

Nobody.  I want to keep Rondo and I want him to buy into the current offensive system they are running.  I think he can do it.  But will he is the question.

[LooseCannon]

With the understanding that it may require a package that includes Rondo and not just Rondo himself, a player making at least as much as Rondo per year without being massively paid, or a player who would make at least that much if he were a free agent this off-season.

I would not trade him for something like a decent point guard and a serviceable big.

[Moranis]

I would consider making any of the following trades.

Charlotte
Kemba Walker, Ben Gordon, Rights to Detroit and Portland picks (both are protected though Portland is probably in this draft, Detroit would be down the line) for Rondo, Sullinger, Melo


New Orleans
Rivers, Lopez, 2013 1st, filler (if needed) for Rondo


Phoenix
Dragic, Beasley (or Frye), 2013 1st for Rondo


Atlanta
Teague (sign & trade), Lou Williams, 2014 1st, 2016 1st for Rondo


Miami
Wade for Rondo, Bass


Edit: I'm sure there are others that I could come up with as well, but those struck me as possible trades that would make some sense for both teams.

[wdleehi]

I would consider making any of the following trades.

Charlotte
Kemba Walker, Ben Gordon, Rights to Detroit and Portland picks for Rondo, Sullinger, Melo


New Orleans
Rivers, Lopez, 2013 1st, filler (if needed) for Rondo


Phoenix
Dragic, Beasley, 2013 1st for Rondo


Atlanta
Teague (sign & trade), Lou Williams, 2014 1st, 2016 1st for Rondo


Miami
Wade for Rondo, Bass

Only the Miami trade is any good.  Everything else is the poo-poo platter.  Not a single building block better then Rondo in there.  Two of them require the Celtics to take back a player on a bad contract.  (any deal Beasley is on at this moment is a bad contract)

[Donoghus]

Established star big man, or multiple young studs and picks. Neither is happening.

This sounds about right.

[Lightskinsmurf]

As others said I want an established star big man. Maybe not allstar but very close to that. A guy like cousins minus the attitude. Unfortunately I'm not sure I see that happening.

[KGs Knee]

Oh, I must have read the thread title wrong, because I thought it said "I want Rondo back".  I was going to say I agree 100%, then I saw it was a trade Rondo thread.  Ugh!

So what do I want, if we're trading Rondo?  LeBron, Durant, Melo.