Report: Celtics telling teams Rajon Rondo won't be traded
The Boston Celtics are telling other teams they will not trade point guard Rajon Rondo, according to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report.
Rondo, 28, is in the final season of his contract and will be eligible for a five-year maximum contract worth more than $100 million this offseason. With the Celtics in their second year of rebuilding after trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets last season, Rondo's future with the young team has been unclear.
Beck reports that team president Danny Ainge is telling teams Rondo is staying put.
Rival executives say that Ainge has been firm in his stance that Rondo will not be dealt. But many of those same executives believe that Ainge has to trade Rondo, to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.
"They're definitely bravely saying they won't trade him at this point," said one general manager, who nevertheless added, "I definitely think it's the right thing to trade him. I think Danny knows it."
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After missing a substantial portion of the past two seasons following a torn ACL, Rondo has returned to form this season. The four-time All-Star is averaging a league-leading 11.6 assists to go along with 10.6 points and 8.4 rebounds. For the third time in his career, Rondo is averaging more assists than field goal attempts.
Boston drafted former Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart with the No. 6 pick in the 2014 draft, fueling speculation that Rondo might not be in the team's long-term plans.
The Celtics have started the season 3-6. They play at the winless Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
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- Paul Palladino
