Happy Birthday, Rondo! Top Ten Highlights

KJ

Happy birthday, Rondo. I wish you could spend it playing rather than on the bench.

Sam

At some point any player will be impacted by trade rumors.  The ones involving Rajon Rondo have been continuous for a number of years now.  This last go round may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

It is easy to understand why Rondo will embrace free agency next year and can anyone blame him for that?  DA has taken the position that anyone can be traded for the right deal and that is probably true for most NBA players however that is an open position that lends itself to ongoing chatter that Rondo is being shopped.  It is like a dark trade cloud is hanging over his head.

I think it is time for Rondo to move on.  If I was him I would do just that.  Sign with a team that is ready to win.  DA has 2014 and 2015 to improve this team dramatically.  If Rajon can be used as a trading chip that will bring back a huge return then a deal should be considered.

I think Rondo is sick and tired of being the subject of trade rumors and they will begin again around draft time and continue throughout the summer.

I love the way he plays the game and will miss not seeing him in a Celtics' uniform but I think he needs to go for his own good.

dboss

Dboss,

Reading your post made me remember back when Rondo's name was Ray Allen.

The way Rondo played last night—despite his 11 assists—made me wonder whether his departure from the Celtics (at least his mental estrangement) has already begun—much like his lengthy detachment when Perk was traded. Rondo's independent nature suggests to me that he's not so enraptured by allegiance to the Celtics that it would keep him from bolting for good reason.

He's still my favorite Celtic, but this is an NBA era of temporary relationships.

Sam

The media types are the ones always drumming up trade rumors, though. Rondo's personality doesn't necessarily rub every prognosticator the right way and naturally rumors arise from this. Before, they tried to paint him as a "coach killer" because he an Doc had some simple disagreements. And every season, they want to talk about trading him because they: [1] Don't like him and [2] need something to talk about.

Ainge said he had to plans to trade Rondo and sure enough the deadline passed just as any other day. This isn't to say Rondo can't or won't ever be shopped. I do think Ainge would actually prefer to retain Rondo because he is an elite PG and he can attract other talents to join.

I think Rondo would like to stay in Boston throughout his career. He's played his entire NBA career with the Celtics and it's always tough to just uproot like that. Honestly, I doubt Rondo will be traded unless HE makes it clear that he has plans to go elsewhere. If that happens, then I'm willing to bet Ainge would work on a trade at that point.



KJ

Too bad we cannot get to see RR playing with both JG and AB.

The injury bug always seems to prevent that from happening.

Dboss

KJ

Thanks for sharing. The other great play they missed was his monster dunk on Howard.

RR one of the most gifted passers that we have seen.

Dboss