While news leaked this weekend suggesting that Rajon Rondo wants the Boston Celtics to trade him (something the point guard denied on Sunday night), he knows the franchise is in the midst of a rebuilding period.
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Given that, it’s going to be a season or two before the Boston Celtics are a competitive team in the Eastern Conference though that doesn’t mean that Rondo is ready to give up on the only organization he has ever known. According to CSNNE.com, the All-Star wants to remain with the Boston Celtics for now and will re-evaluate the situation at a later point.
"Multiple league sources have repeatedly said that Rondo wants to start the season in Boston and see where things go from there. A similar sentiment has trickled out of Celtics camp, as well."
Is this how Rajon Rondo actually feels? Or is it damage control from the Celtics and Rondo’s camp? We’ll likely never know, though it’s a sentiment that seems to make some sense for Rondo assuming he does want to remain with the Boston Celtics moving forward. Of course, he could suggest he’s open to a contract extension and the continued rumors would all but die down.
For the Celtics, hanging on to Rondo will likely hurt their return. A free agent at season end, a trade involving Rondo is already nothing more than a ‘rental’ move for the acquiring team. That will understandably reduce the asking price but if Boston is to wait until the trade deadline, the pressure to make a move will be in their corner and the reduced asking price will fall even further.
Needless to say, it’s not exactly an enviable position.