Oct 20, 2012; Albany, NY, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) shoots the ball against New York Knicks forward Steve Novak (16) during the first half at Times Union Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
In case you couldn’t see it on Christmas Day, the New York Knicks are in desperate need of help. Granted, they were without star Carmelo Anthony, but even with him on the court, they’ve been lackluster, to put it lightly.
However, with so much time still left in the NBA season, the Knicks aren’t going to throw in the towel just yet and they’re going to look to every scenario possible to salvage what they can heading into 2014.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, that plan involves Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, and it’s a bit tricky.
In free agency, Rondo wouldn’t be available until 2015. But, the Knicks reportedly want him sooner rather than later.
Per Windhorst, New York is hoping that Rondo will take care of matters himself and force a trade with the Celtics that would bring him to New York to play with Carmelo and company:
According to league sources, the Knicks’ first prong is to try to attract the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo. This idea has been tossed around in various forms for a while now, it’s not shocking. But the way the Knicks are hoping to get Rondo is a little unusual.
It’s not in free agency in 2015 but later this season or next summer when he comes back from a torn ACL. The Knicks are hoping Rondo will be interested in making a maneuver similar to what Anthony did back in 2011 and eventually try to force a trade to the Knicks, sources said…
If that fails — and who knows how Rondo will mesh with this Celtics team, it could work well and he could want to stay — the Knicks fully believe they will get one or two of the following in free agency in 2015 when they expect to have large salary-cap space: Kevin Love,LaMarcus Aldridge, Roy Hibbert, Marc Gasol, Tony Parker or Rondo when his contract is up. Under certain circumstances, (LeBron) James himself could be a free agent again that summer.
