NBA Trade Rumors: Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons Want Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo

Despite Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge saying Rajon Rondo isn’t for sale, that hasn’t stopped rival teams from calling.

According to CBS’ Ken Berger, the Detroit Pistons were one of the first teams to call about Rondo after the Celitcs traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, letting it be known they want in if Rondo becomes available.

"Based on that possibility, the Pistons were among the first teams to reach out to the Celtics and express interest in acquiring Rondo, the All-Star point guard who is coming off an ACL injury, league sources told CBSSports.com. Having already made lucrative pitches to free agents Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala, Pistons president Joe Dumars also has registered interest in Raptors forward Rudy Gay, one source said.The Mavericks, who met with free-agent center Dwight Howard on Tuesday, also intend to pursue a Rondo trade if the Celtics make him available."

At 27 years of age, Rondo is currently entering the prime of his career, a prime that sadly could be wasted on a rebuilding Celtics team so a trade is a distinct possibility, gut wrenching as that might be for Celitc fans. Rebuilds often take three, four, even five years which would put Rondo on the downward slope of his career, so despite their reluctance to move him at the moment it might be in the future plans.