Rumor: Dallas Mavericks engaging in trade talks for Rajon Rondo

[byennie]

Speaking of Texas teams, who blinks on this deal with Houston:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nmg6szv

Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons, Thomas Robinson, Terrence Jones
FOR
Rajon Rondo

Houston chases a Rondo/Harden/Asik/Howard core (OMG) and frees up just a little more cash to keep Beverley and Greg Smith.

Boston gets a younger, cheaper PG and 3 more chips on rookie deals. Let Lin go back to being more of a scorer, and cross-matching with Bradley against quicker PGs.

Lin / Bradley / Green / Parsons / Sullinger / Jones / Robinson / Olynyk ... not a bad 8-man core of young players to go with our 8 draft picks. That's 16 moving pieces.

[gpap]

I agree with others that if we dealt Rondo, then Dallas is just not a good trade partner as they literally have squat to offer us.

I mean seriously, how many more 1st round draft picks do we need?

We just acquired a total of 4 1st round future picks in the last week with the Doc and KG/Pierce trades.

For me, at this point, the only other future 1st rd pick I'd like to acquire is one with the possibility of falling in the top 10 for 2014.

Another thing that we don't need is another small forward which also makes landing Marion redundant.

If you deal Rondo, I think the only thing that makes sense is getting a young, talented point guard in return.

That's why I think dealing Rondo to Sac Town for Tyreke and their 2014 1st or to Detroit for either Stuckey or Brandon Knight and their 2014 makes sense.

That way, you get an asset AND a 2014 1st round pick from a team that could still suck even with Rondo.

teams that suck dont give up their picks unprotected.

It's a good point. In that case then, just keep Rondo and not deal him for pennies on the dollar UNLESS you don't think he'll be healthy for the 2013/14 season.

If that's the case, then I suppose see what you can get for him and let another team take a risk on having a point guard with an injured ACL.

[gpap]

Rondo is coming off ACL surgery and likely wouldn't be ready until mid-season anyway. If we want to tank, why not have him take his time coming back, play enough to show that he recovered, and have him take it slow with limited minutes so that we still end up with a top 3 pick? Heck, we could even have him sit out the whole year like the Bulls did with Rose, no one can question it if he does that.

I hear a lot of people suggesting this and challenge why or how it benefits the Celtics and how or why it even makes sense?

If you have Rondo and he's healthy, then why wouldn't you play him to remain competitive?

If you have Rondo and he's not healthy and won't be for a duration of the 2013/14 season, then as might as well deal him now and get something for him.

I just don't understand the point in having a talented player but intentionally keeping him on the bench just to lose games.

Where's the logic?

[tarheelsxxiii]

EDIT: Also, taking back Courtney Lee and Brandon Bass? What?

Loves it.

That's the thing. Would Danny use Rondo to dump a bunch of contracts while collecting 1st round picks?

I'd want OJ Mayo and a few 1strounders. Along with them taking Wallace's contract if we could.

Also, Danny was rumored to be a big fan of Shane Larkin, who the Mavs suprisingly drafted after people saying for weeks they wanted out of this draft...

Maybe I'm speculating, but this may have legs.

They also traded for Ricky Ledo, using BKN's '14 2nd rounder that we gave them as part of the deal to move up for Olynyk 

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4696532/mavs-trade-for-43rd-pick-select-sg-ricky-ledo

I was so annoyed when we missed out on Ledo.

Larkin and Ledo were my two biggest wants :/
If Ainge was high on Larkin, why didn't we draft him?

Because when you're picking between two talented players who project as nothing more than role players / solid backups in this league, you go with the seven footer who can shoot threes over the point guard who can run pick and roll.

There were plenty of people who projected Larkin to be more than a role player/solid back-up in this league. Both have a ton of upside relative to Olynyk.

Larkin shined against tough competition this year; Olynyk looked like he didn't belong.

Who has proven more valuable in this league over the past few years? Soft bigs who shoot 3s, or undersized but very athletic, talented PGs who can distribute and score? Can't name a player with a similar style/skill set as Olynyk's that made a considerable contribution to a contender (unless you point to Dirk, which is a silly comparison) in recent years.

[Celtics Insider]

If you have Rondo and he's healthy, then why wouldn't you play him to remain competitive?

Because we're not good enough to win a championship, so what's the point? We should still try and win...but play the Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.tiest players possible.

Also, you bench Rondo because of the high injury rate. I think Rose was smart for not playing this season. He made a good career move.

[KCattheStripe]

Speaking of Texas teams, who blinks on this deal with Houston:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nmg6szv

Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons, Thomas Robinson, Terrence Jones
FOR
Rajon Rondo

Houston chases a Rondo/Harden/Asik/Howard core (OMG) and frees up just a little more cash to keep Beverley and Greg Smith.

Boston gets a younger, cheaper PG and 3 more chips on rookie deals. Let Lin go back to being more of a scorer, and cross-matching with Bradley against quicker PGs.

Lin / Bradley / Green / Parsons / Sullinger / Jones / Robinson / Olynyk ... not a bad 8-man core of young players to go with our 8 draft picks. That's 16 moving pieces.

Houston. Not sure Rondo and Harden are a great fit. harden needs the ball too much to coexist with Rondo.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

If we dont get an all star in return for Rondo I would cry, cry even harder and be done with Danny Ainge.

He's gambling TOO MUCH for this 2014 draft when he already has enough chips. Trading away the best player who could possibly be the biggest suppirting player for this superstar he's trying to get is absolutely disgusting.

If Danny will rely on good old luck to find another piece when we already have one, who he wants to trade for assets, I'm so done. We can rebuild without giving away our best talent for more "assets".

Trade Rondo for the same or a little less caliber talent, then its a different story.

I agree with this, which is why I wouldn't want to deal Rondo. For example, if Dallas landing Rondo entices Dwight to go there, then why should we just give that satisfaction to Dallas?

Why not keep Rondo, and try to lure Dwight to come to Boston (or insert whichever big name free agent.)

The stupid part of this, Danny cant even wait for the season to see if the assets he have xan develop into enticing young prospects along with the picks he got.

He's really a coward. He realky thinks the only solution is blow it up, get as many assrts as possible and hope those assets turn into something.

Jesus Christ we have a ton of picks already, young guys who are slowly but surely making anname for themselves and a few more who can develop into good trade chips. The last thing he wants to do us tradr a borderline superstar talent that he already have, instead make sure that that talent would be a part of a future that will contend.

But no, apparently I think doung his work as a GM, making sure assets develop is too hard and he would rather give away a star for a chance of another WHO IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY HELP WE HE GETS HERE. Let alone IF he gets here.

[Evantime34]

Speaking of Texas teams, who blinks on this deal with Houston:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nmg6szv

Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons, Thomas Robinson, Terrence Jones
FOR
Rajon Rondo

Houston chases a Rondo/Harden/Asik/Howard core (OMG) and frees up just a little more cash to keep Beverley and Greg Smith.

Boston gets a younger, cheaper PG and 3 more chips on rookie deals. Let Lin go back to being more of a scorer, and cross-matching with Bradley against quicker PGs.

Lin / Bradley / Green / Parsons / Sullinger / Jones / Robinson / Olynyk ... not a bad 8-man core of young players to go with our 8 draft picks. That's 16 moving pieces.

Houston. Not sure Rondo and Harden are a great fit. harden needs the ball too much to coexist with Rondo.

If they believe it will get them Dwight, I bet they do it.

[PhoSita]

Update:

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 7m
Mavs would love having Rajon Rondo to chase Dwight Howard, but Boston needs Dallas to take multiple contracts off its books, sources say.

Ugh Woj has chimed in, maybe the talks are legit.

I hate hate hate to say this, but Ainge is on a mission. I could see him taking less value for Rondo in order to dump contracts.

Yeah it's pretty obvious Danny Ainge is dead set on three tasks:

1. Clear the books
2. Gather future assets (picks)
3. Set the team up to tank HARD

[PhoSita]

EDIT: Also, taking back Courtney Lee and Brandon Bass? What?

Loves it.

That's the thing. Would Danny use Rondo to dump a bunch of contracts while collecting 1st round picks?

I'd want OJ Mayo and a few 1strounders. Along with them taking Wallace's contract if we could.

Also, Danny was rumored to be a big fan of Shane Larkin, who the Mavs suprisingly drafted after people saying for weeks they wanted out of this draft...

Maybe I'm speculating, but this may have legs.

They also traded for Ricky Ledo, using BKN's '14 2nd rounder that we gave them as part of the deal to move up for Olynyk 

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4696532/mavs-trade-for-43rd-pick-select-sg-ricky-ledo

I was so annoyed when we missed out on Ledo.

Larkin and Ledo were my two biggest wants :/
If Ainge was high on Larkin, why didn't we draft him?

Because when you're picking between two talented players who project as nothing more than role players / solid backups in this league, you go with the seven footer who can shoot threes over the point guard who can run pick and roll.

There were plenty of people who projected Larkin to be more than a role player/solid back-up in this league. Both have a ton of upside relative to Olynyk.

Larkin shined against tough competition this year; Olynyk looked like he didn't belong.

Neither of those things are really true.  Larkin projects as a nice backup due to his size.  A J.J. Barea type.

Olynyk played just fine against top 25 teams this year, and generally dominated college basketball.

They are both flawed players.  I expect both to be nice role players, maybe solid starters one day.  But nothing more than that.

[Jack_Frost]

What about a deal like this:

Rondo+Wallace+Lee

for

Nowitzki+Larkin+pick?

Dirk can be traded to a third team who want to contend
Dallas take a good Howard friend...

[j804]

I think we all need to pump our breaks doubt this has any real shot of happening.

If the Mavs want to get Rondo to try and lure Dwight to stay, don't think it'll be good enough. He's all but signed in Houston by all reports. I mean would you rather play with Harden or an injured Rondo that probably won't be healthy till the following year? Dirk is there so there's that but he's not getting any younger. You're looking at a year and a half until they are all healthy.

[BleedGreen1989]

Some interesting Tweets from Stein...

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine about 15 minutes ago
Mavs: We're interested in Rondo. Celts: We want Dirk. So: More teams gotta jump in or Boston gotta budge for meaningful talks to take place

Why would Danny want Dirk?

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine about 11 minutes ago
Even after ACL tear, Boston asking a lot for Rondo. Yet as we discussed Friday AM on @MikeAndMike, teams out there DO think Rondo next to go

Glad to see Danny is asking "a lot".

[nickagneta]

If you have Rondo and he's healthy, then why wouldn't you play him to remain competitive?

Because we're not good enough to win a championship, so what's the point? We should still try and win...but play the ****tiest players possible.

Also, you bench Rondo because of the high injury rate. I think Rose was smart for not playing this season. He made a good career move.

The way the League office has been so.....unpredictable...regarding the way teams handle business recently(fining SA for sitting 3 players, the Chris Paul situation in New Orleans, not fining Miami for doing the same thing SA did, flopping, the Doc/Clippers/Celtics situation and decision, I wouldn't trust having a healthy Rondo and sitting him for the purpose of tanking.

If the League office even thinks the C's are doing this to purposely improve their draft position next year, I'm not sure I want the C's to be the first team to get massively fined for purposely tanking. I just don't trust that league front office. Better to play Rondo if he is healthy and have faith that the rest of the team sucks bad enough that the C's still are a bad team and sitting him when he is healthy to lose games, IMHO.

[Lebowski]

Some interesting Tweets from Stein...

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine about 15 minutes ago
Mavs: We're interested in Rondo. Celts: We want Dirk. So: More teams gotta jump in or Boston gotta budge for meaningful talks to take place

Why would Danny want Dirk?

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine about 11 minutes ago
Even after ACL tear, Boston asking a lot for Rondo. Yet as we discussed Friday AM on @MikeAndMike, teams out there DO think Rondo next to go

Glad to see Danny is asking "a lot".

Seems like an opening gambit - "This is how highly we rate Rondo. Your move."