Mavericks Interested In Rondo Trade

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics have discussed a trade involving Rajon Rondo, according to a report from Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com.

The Celtics would like to acquire Shane Larkin in a deal with the Mavericks.

The Mavericks are pursuing Dwight Howard via free agency and would have difficulty in acquiring Rondo while preserving sufficient cap space.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

[cs hauser]

Preserving cap space for Dwight while trading for Rondo is a very tricky business. Mavs have very little assets to begin with, and they can only take back so much salary.

The best package they can offer is two unprotected draft picks, the rights to rookies Shane Larkin and Ricky Ledo, the expiring contracts of Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, and accept a salary dump of Courtney Lee's contract. That's literally the best offer the Mavs can give. They can't add more picks because they already owe a future pick to the Thunder. They can't accept a bigger salary dump (like Wallace) because it would take them out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes.

The only way the Celtics will accept such a puny offer from Dallas is if Rondo's ACL injury is worse than they're letting on.

[CJH248]

Celtics would be foolish to trade now, anyway. He'll come back strong and play up to par to where he was pre-injury. Then they'll get really good value for him

[youblewwit]

After finding out DAL wanted Rondo, BOS countered with wanting Dirk. So in other words, it's not happening.

If BOS trades Rondo, they would be looking to package a couple contracts (Bass, Lee, Wallace) and getting a bunch of assets.

If DAL thinks they can get Rondo AND still preserve cap space for Dwight, Cuban is more delusional than we all thought.

Their best offer would be...Larkin+Marion's expiring+Carter's expiring ...for... S&T Jennings. They get a good young PG (with deficiencies), but still preserve cap space for a Dwight chase.

[inquisitive]

Morey and Ainge have a close enough relationship that Morey will tell Ainge not to do it...

[kobe48306]

Rondo = Best Point Guard in the NBA. He stays in Celtic Green!