Boston Celtics rumors: Rajon Rondo is the key to Celtics' rebuild

After dealing forward/center Kevin Garnett and swingman Paul Pierce, a pair of future Hall-of-Famers, to the Brooklyn Nets last year, the Boston Celtics suffered through a 25-57 record, the fifth-worst mark in the league.

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The Celtics entered the 2014 NBA Draft with the sixth-overall and 17th-overall selections, amid other assets like future draft picks and young big men Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger. The Celtics hoped to present a package that the Minnesota Timberwolves thought was a good enough return for star power forward Kevin Love, but that obviously wasn’t the case. Instead, the Celtics used those picks to select former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart and former Kentucky Wildcats’ swingman James Young.

The leaves the Celtics in a pickle – do they try to trade for veterans or should they be patient and rebuild around their young talent? Larry Coon of Basketball Insiders believes point guard Rajon Rondo is the key to the Celtics’ rebuiding, whether they trade him or not. The Celtics could deal Rondo and gain more young assets, which would signal rebuilding around their young talent or they could try to keep Rondo and acquire enough help to return to the postseason.

Rondo was limited just 30 games while returning from his ACL injury and averaged 11.7 points, 9.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 40.3% from the field, 28.9% from beyond the arc and 62.7% from the free throw line.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league all summer long.

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Boston Celtics rumors: Rajon Rondo is the key to Celtics’ rebuild

By Andrew Melnick | Jul 26, 2014