I'm pretty tired of hearing that Detroit would say no. Boston is the one with the 4-time all-star, 2-time league assist leader, 2-time all-NBA 1st team defense, championship caliber point guard. Drummond put up 9 double-doubles last season...that is nice for a rookie big man. Rondo averages 20/season and 8/playoff.
Well, you need to get used to Detroit saying no to that deal, because it is just incredibly unbalanced.
I agree the OP trade is unbalanced but I don't think that Rondo for Drummond is balanced our way. The point I was making is that Drummond is a bunch of potential with some notable flaws. Rondo is a proven NBA star with (hilariously) similar flaws. The difference there isn't small.
The problem I had was that Detroit fans (and even some Boston fans) were hyping a guy who's done next to nothing in the NBA and diminishing a guy who, as I put it earlier, is very accomplished. That is all I was calling attention to.
There is more to it than just talent. You're ignoring the fit of the players involved.
Rondo is obviously more accomplished and unbelievably talented, but his style of play doesn't mesh well enough with their current roster for them to be giving up the amount of talent you seem to be expecting.
If the Pistons picked up Rondo their starting lineup would have no real shooters. Rondo's midrange game has improved, but he still isn't a "shooter", neither is Josh Smith or either of Monroe/Drummond. KCP should help, but he is an unknown/proven commodity. They're all great pieces, but I don't know if they are pieces that fit together.
As good as Rondo is, you don't sell the farm for a guy who, while talented, might not fit into your system. Otherwise they'll look like the Lakers from last year. Lots of talent, but just can't put it together.
Of course they made a call just to test the waters, but they shouldn't and probably won't be willing to go all in for Rondo.
If I were them my max offer would be Monroe, Knight and one of their expiring deals and I'd try to avoid taking back Wallace's deal as much as possible. Anything beyond that and it's just too much.