Ian Thomson: "Rondo is gone"

[Surferdad]

Yes I know there are Brad Stevens threads, Rondo threads, etc but this statement was really convincing. Thomson said this on Sports Tonight on CSN. What really caught my ear is that he said it took a huge amount of effort for Doc Rivers, an experienced NBA coach, to manage Rondo. His point was that there is NO WAY Stevens as a rookie NBA coach, will be able to manage him.  I think he has a good point.

One thing we should have learned about Ainge is that, if possible, he goes for the BIG deal when it comes to trades.   That's how he got KG and that's how he unloaded PP and KG. I now believe Ainge will trade Rondo with the goal being to get into the lottery in 2014. (tanking perhaps but possibly by dangling Rondo to get the pick of a bad team).

Rondo is a real good player and an NBA champion, but I no longer think Ainge believes he can build around the guy.  To win a championship you need ELITE player(s) and that means lottery. Dwight Howard is not walking through that door. 

[lightspeed5]

rondo is the smartest player in the game.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

[Roy H.]

rondo is the smartest player in the game.

I'm not sure that this can be backed up.

As for Thomsen, he's just guessing.

[esel1000]

Sounds like speculation. I really don't believe Rondo goes anywhere, who cares if Stevens is a new coach if he's the right person to control Rondo then that's all that matters.

Of course I'm not sure if that's the case, about the same as Thompson knowing whether or not Rondos gone. This is probably the worst time to trade him anyway... coming off an ACL and teams thinking we'll trade him for pennies on the dollar.

[WeMadeIt17]

I think he will come in and try to work a lot with Rondo. I think Rondo may have been consulted about how to get as the next coach. So who knows. I think Rondo will like him.

[Surferdad]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

It's not just Ian Thomson, folks. A Sherrod Blakely just said on NESN Sport Tonight: "It would not surprise me to see Rondo on another team this season."

[Lucky17]

Trading Rondo when his trade value is at its lowest does not seem like an Ainge kind of move.

[Celtics18]

Brad Stevens seems like a smart guy.  If he's as great a basketball mind as they say he is, he must be thrilled at the opportunity to work with Rajon Rondo. 

I think they could form something very special given the opportunity.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

It's not just Ian Thomson, folks. A Sherrod Blakely just said on NESN Sport Tonight: "It would not surprise me to see Rondo on another team this season."

Of course it wouldn't surprise anyone, but when talking with the absoluteness of "hiring this coach means Rondo is gone" is pure crap in my opinion with little basis to go on.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ainge is shopping Rondo, despite what he has says. I just don't think he's in any hurry to do so as people are speculating, and I don't think he has any interest in trading Rondo for cents on the dollar. He'd be looking to fleece someone, and I think Ainge has no trouble keeping Rondo around for the full rebuild either... this is simply who Ainge is. No one is safe.

[Vox_Populi]

I'm not worried about Rondo being traded honestly. Over the course of the time he's been on Boston, I've been under the impression he's always been on the block. Ainge didn't move him before, I doubt he'll move him now.

[esel1000]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

It's not just Ian Thomson, folks. A Sherrod Blakely just said on NESN Sport Tonight: "It would not surprise me to see Rondo on another team this season."

That honestly makes me believe even more that he'll be back lol. But seriously based on what we've heard, the only trade I believe would be fair in return for Rondo would be if the Pistons traded Monroe or something. But I'm sure the offers DA hears for him are a joke

[hpantazo]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

It's not just Ian Thomson, folks. A Sherrod Blakely just said on NESN Sport Tonight: "It would not surprise me to see Rondo on another team this season."

if Blakely said so, then it's certainly not true. They guy never gets anything right.

[RJ87]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

It's not just Ian Thomson, folks. A Sherrod Blakely just said on NESN Sport Tonight: "It would not surprise me to see Rondo on another team this season."

So there's multiple people guessing. Pretty much a glorified version of these forums.

Trading Rondo when his trade value is at its lowest does not seem like an Ainge kind of move.

This. You're at least looking at half a season of Rondo. Is he taking calls? Yes, Ainge is going to squeeze as much value as possible.

[Roy H.]

Meh, I haven't agreed with Ian Thompson in a very long time.

It's not just Ian Thomson, folks. A Sherrod Blakely just said on NESN Sport Tonight: "It would not surprise me to see Rondo on another team this season."

if Blakely said so, then it's certainly not true. They guy never gets anything right.

Wait, so are you saying that Blakely *would* be surprised if Rondo was traded? 

The "I wouldn't be surprised if..." thing is such typical Sherrod.  He implies he has inside information while making a non-commital statement that doesn't mean anything.