Unless the Celtics get Demarcus Cousins, I'm not interested in what the Kings have for Rondo.

Odd

Honestly, there's no other reason why the Celtics would be calling Isiah Thomas, unless they at least have a plan in place that includes Rondo gone.  Thomas is not going to sign up to be a backup point guard.  Also not sure what this does in regards to Smart...Does DA view him as a '2' and not a '1'...

I know it's just a call, but teams usually place calls that early in players they're very interested in...Makes me think this off-season could go a million different ways...

A 'we're fine moving on' message to Rondo to get him to lower his price?  It's either that or 'we really are fine moving on' move.  Very interesting.

@AlexKennedyNBA  8m
The Boston Celtics were first team to call restricted free agent Isaiah Thomas when free agency started, per source. Danny Ainge called.


Let the Rondo to Kings rumors start all over again...

Honestly, this is fairly significant news if true.  I'm not sure how you can spin it otherwise.   We know Boston had discussions about #8 and Mclemore for Rondo... we know we had discussions about McLemore for the #6... We know that the Kings have discussed bringing in Josh Smith with the intention of appeasing their target (Rondo) into signing an extension... and now we know that Boston is interested in Thomas...

It seemed odd that we heard about the potential mclemore trade on draft night without any follow-up.  And we know that if Thomas was a key part of a potential trade, it would have to be sign-and-trade, right?  Legally, they couldn't discuss such a possibility until today.  I don't think I'm reading tea leaves when I say this all seems to be pushing towards a Rondo to the Kings deal. 

Thomas sign-and-trade + McLemore for Rondo seems pretty plausible at this point. 

Personally, I'm not a fan of midget point guards.  Thomas is a solid offensive weapon, but he'll be a defensive liability.  Those tiny guards (Nate Robinson, Earl Boykins) are often great offensive punches off the bench, but always too gimmicky to start consistently.  If we did it, I'd want a future 1st from the Kings as well. 

Hypothetically, Thomas, Smart and McLemore (who I still believe has a great future and has legit SG size at 6'5) would be an interesting young guard rotation.

Wow, this is a really telling move by Ainge. Either this is his response to the Rondo contract rumors to drive the price down. Or we're really moving on from Rondo. Now that it is close to happening I don't think I want us to. I mean what are we going to get back from the Kings?

Well guess I'm in the minority that loves the idea. I moved on from the idea of Love even before he was a C and it seems like the brass upstairs have moved on as well. Been a fan of Thomas for awhile but not sure with the Heat contacting him and his favorite team as a child, the Lakers calling too, that we really have a chance.

They don't have any money to offer him unless it's a sign and trade.

Gut tells me there's been a framework for a rondo deal fleshed out here.