NBA Rumors: Celtics to play Marcus Smart, Rajon Rondo together in backcourt

The Boston Celtics were in prime position on Thursday night to select a game-changer with their no. 6 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, and when their card was called, they did just that with the selection of Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart.

More from Boston Celtics

However, with the selection of probably the best point guard in the group, that fueled the speculation even further that Rajon Rondo could soon be out the door in Boston as the trade talks grew hotter and hotter.

Well, if the words of head coach Brad Stevens were any indication, that Rondo won’t be going anywhere, and he can completely envision them both taking the floor in the backcourt together.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt, I think they can play together,” Stevens said. “I think it will be great for Marcus to have a guy like Rondo to look up to, to learn from. Not many guys get that opportunity, especially early on in the draft like this. Marcus is another guy that I was thrilled that he was there at 6, because physically he’s ready to play and he competes every single minute of every single day. That will do nothing but help your team, regardless of what position he’s playing. I expect him to play some off the ball, I expect him to play some with the ball. But he’s a young guy. He’s going to be playing with a guy there that’s been in the league for a long time, that can really help him learn about it. I think it’s great. I think it’ll be great for both of them.”

Although Smart can play the point, the beauty part about his versatility is that he can also play the shooting guard role rather well, while learning from Rondo at the point, as Stevens noted.