I feel this is the year to trade Rondo

[bucknersrevenge]

If it's going to hard to build around Rondo, I feel we should trade him before he walks. Rondo is going to want top dollars, and IMO he isn't worth the money for this team.

Before people go crazy about this, just remember when we won and title and also made it back to the Finals. Rondo was our 4th best player behind Pierce, KG, and Ray. I feel we won't win much with Rondo as our best player or even as our second best player. Rondo will help a team win when he is the team's third or fourth best player.

If Ainge could pull off a two for one type deal for Rondo, that's fair value, he needs to do it. To add talent, sometimes you have to give up talent. I just feel it's a mistake to build around Rajon, and it might be time to trade him. Rondo can help a contending team and we are far from contending at this point. A Rondo trade might be best for both Rajon and the Celtics to get the rebuilding going at a faster pace.

X 1 billion

"Building AROUND Rondo" is not an accurate description. If anything, you ADD Super Star players to him that he can support .

Let him go be the 3rd or 4th best player on a current contender - where he can support studs & closers like we had between 2007 & 2012, & where his shooting liabilities do not matter & can be hidden.

Package him with Bass or Green or KO & get a stud unhappy with his current team.

And you do NOT boot-strap yourself paying the MAJOR bucks he wants to a pass first point guard who is such a limited shooter/scorer.

I am itching for the next Celtic super-era to begin.

While I am firmly entrenched in the camp that says don't trade Rondo, I can still understand the perspective for moving him for something. I do not believe Danny is going to be able to get him to resign. Forget all Rondo's talk earlier this year about the fans and Danny and all that. That's nothing more than window dressing. Rondo wants to get paid and he wants to spend his prime years competing for championships. Unless Danny does something dramatic and soon, this is not likely to happen. Certainly not sooner than other teams will be able to that can also offer him big money.

So if Danny can't compete right now with other teams. And its 5050 at least, Rondo leaves, I can see the logic in moving for whatever you can get for him, regardless of what little you get back. Problem with that though is that it would be a PR nightmare. Regardless of whether or not Danny truly thinks he can re-sign him, up to this point Rajon hasn't stated any desire to leave. So Danny is obligated to hold onto his asset as long as possible unless a legit deal falls in his lap. Danny really doesn't have any options here at the moment. Even if he wanted to move Rondo, which he doesn't, he couldn't sell it to ownership. But unless he can make a move at the deadline, he's going to lose him in the end anyway.

[bucknersrevenge]

I'll have the respectfully disagree. No doubt he's a popular player, but I assume anyone that thinks he has that actual kind of draw power would go to the games regardless whether he's on the team or not. You guys act like he's got LBJ power where the economy around the stadium is gonna drop off if he's not with the team. He's no where near that impactful in that sense, its just homer goggles

This is a short-sighted statement. The city of Miami is not going to feel LBJ's departure one bit. Maybe in a city like Cleveland that has next to nothing else to offer, but places like Boston, LA, Chicago...this argument doesn't hold water. Boston didn't go bankrupt when KG and PP were traded.

In terms of butts in seats, Rondo puts them there.

No doubt, you trade Rondo to Philly and attendance goes up. You trade anyone else on our team to Philly, nothing.

Ok so its not so much Rondo as it is the success of the team. The departure of Rondo will inevitably result in us getting more talent eventually which will increase ticket sales in itself. Whether it be through the draft/trade/FA. Rondo doenst fit here, we have way to many guards. Time to ship him out

This.

And not just recent success we're talking about, but all-time success. That link talking about jersey sales has nothing to do with people buying tickets. People buy Rondo jerseys all over the country and all over the world. Boston transplants in different cities that are just fans of the Celtics aren't buying tickets. Rondo signed a huge shoe contract in the Phillipines. You think those people aren't buying jerseys with all the work he does over there with his camps and stuff? How about people in Kentucky? None of these people are going to the Garden. He doesn't put people in seats. Team success and overall fan loyalty puts people in the seats. Rondo didn't play most of last year and we barely saw a dropoff in attendance. The fans that want to go, will still go regardless of whether or not Rondo is on the team or not.

[pac213up]

This.

And not just recent success we're talking about, but all-time success. That link talking about jersey sales has nothing to do with people buying tickets. People buy Rondo jerseys all over the country and all over the world. Boston transplants in different cities that are just fans of the Celtics aren't buying tickets. Rondo signed a huge shoe contract in the Phillipines. You think those people aren't buying jerseys with all the work he does over there with his camps and stuff? How about people in Kentucky? None of these people are going to the Garden. He doesn't put people in seats. Team success and overall fan loyalty puts people in the seats. Rondo didn't play most of last year and we barely saw a dropoff in attendance. The fans that want to go, will still go regardless of whether or not Rondo is on the team or not.

Sorry I would disagree. Up to this season I had been a season ticket holder since 2005. I met plenty of people local and out of town that purchased tickets to see Rondo play. Would those seats have been filled by other people not interested in Rondo, maybe. The attendance last year was due to the fact that the vast majority of seats are purchased by season ticket holders - I think it is 80%. Season ticket holders renewed well before all the changes happened....I was one of them. The secondary market was garbage last year.

With all that said no individual player brings a ton fans to this type of market. Some will bring more than others and in combination (Pierce/Ray/KG) the impact can be fairly large. Ultimately winning is the key because of the local competition for revenue. Teams are always more attractive when they have a player like Rondo vs not though.

[sully00]

Anyone talking about Rondo's rank on a team 4 or 6 years ago is derailing this thread and needs to stop. Take it somewhere else...far away.

I am not sure we need yet another Rondo trade thread but if we are going to have it lets keep it on point.

I have been for shopping Rondo. I just don't like the math on his age or the competition level of this team over the next 3 years. That said he is a great player and both his and Boston's options are limited. There are only so many teams that are going to be in on Rondo with the talent at the PG spot league wide. Boston only has so many options to throw money at all star talent.

He seems open to staying for the right pay check and that is extremely helpful to Boston's position. Seriously if this is an issue of having to bring Perk back to make him happy then I think they will likely be able to close the deal. That said he will become untradeable the minute he signs that huge new contract, at his age, skill set, and position a 5 year deal near the max will mean he is a Celtic for life.

My guess is a scenario or two will pop up before years end especially if he is going to flirt with averaging a triple double and continues to make some 3's. But it has to be the perfect deal if things are even functional in Boston. The stock on this situation rises and falls with the wins and losses and the way he plays. The better he plays the more interest league wide and the worse Boston is the more likely they are too listen to that interest.

[bucknersrevenge]

This.

And not just recent success we're talking about, but all-time success. That link talking about jersey sales has nothing to do with people buying tickets. People buy Rondo jerseys all over the country and all over the world. Boston transplants in different cities that are just fans of the Celtics aren't buying tickets. Rondo signed a huge shoe contract in the Phillipines. You think those people aren't buying jerseys with all the work he does over there with his camps and stuff? How about people in Kentucky? None of these people are going to the Garden. He doesn't put people in seats. Team success and overall fan loyalty puts people in the seats. Rondo didn't play most of last year and we barely saw a dropoff in attendance. The fans that want to go, will still go regardless of whether or not Rondo is on the team or not.

Sorry I would disagree. Up to this season I had been a season ticket holder since 2005. I met plenty of people local and out of town that purchased tickets to see Rondo play. Would those seats have been filled by other people not interested in Rondo, maybe. The attendance last year was due to the fact that the vast majority of seats are purchased by season ticket holders - I think it is 80%. Season ticket holders renewed well before all the changes happened....I was one of them. The secondary market was garbage last year.

With all that said no individual player brings a ton fans to this type of market. Some will bring more than others and in combination (Pierce/Ray/KG) the impact can be fairly large. Ultimately winning is the key because of the local competition for revenue. Teams are always more attractive when they have a player like Rondo vs not though.

I'm not sure you actually disagreeing with me here. My point was about bringing up the link regarding Rondo jersey sales as proof of how he puts butts in the seats. I was deconstructing that myth to show why Rondo jersey sales might be high. As to season tickets being renewed couldn't you attribute a lot of that to a new coach as well? New attitude around Boston. Maybe some curiousity regarding Olynyk? Paul Pierce legitimately brought people into the Garden. His resume, his tenure, all that made him a draw in Boston. Does Rondo move the needle too? Maybe. Not nearly as much as some might give him credit. Is it better to market the team with him here vs him not? Absolutely. Which is why I don't think you're disagreeing with me after all. Team success is the ultimate draw. Rondo is just not a big draw, not for fans, not for potential free agents.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I think Rondo follows the Pierce path- he's in the spotlight, his value is questioned, the team considers trades but never pulls the trigger. Why?

1. We have the chance for a 2007-esque summer- between the draft, our cap room, and our existing picks and prospects, we could load up for the 2015 season pretty quickly. Rondo is a big part of that.

2. Who are you going to get for him? I'd consider a trade that dumps Wallace and brings back expirings and assets; I'd consider a trade that gets us a future all-star and a couple of other nice prospects (Mclemore, Giannis, unprotected picks from a bad team). But there are only a handful of teams that would fit, and they have decent point guards already.

Caveats:
1. Rondo's a mercurial guy, and he could say all the right things this year about loving Boston and then walk to New York in the summer.
2. We have Marcus Smart. He could be a big trade chip for us, but he's also younger, cheaper, and a much more dynamic leader. Pierce might have gotten traded a decade ago if we'd had an elite small forward prospect nipping at his heels.

[bucknersrevenge]

I think we look at this from the wrong angle sometimes. Other than familiarity, what are Rondo's current reasons to STAY?

[sam_I_am]

Anyone talking about Rondo's rank on a team 4 or 6 years ago is derailing this thread and needs to stop. Take it somewhere else...far away.

I am not sure we need yet another Rondo trade thread but if we are going to have it lets keep it on point.

.

I am not sure who you are directing this to, but ReturnToGlory started the thread and his main point was that Rondo was 4th best player on a contender so he should be traded. Not sure how someone can derail a thread by discussing the main point of its author.

[pac213up]

I think we look at this from the wrong angle sometimes. Other than familiarity, what are Rondo's current reasons to STAY?

I would agree with this and it is one of the reasons I think he is more likely to leave via FA than a trade. I also believe however that Ainge has kept him in the loop on things and he understands the team is trying to find other players to pair him with.

[ILC]

I think that Danny will not, under any circumstances, trade Rondo just to trade him. He's just stubborn and has said multiple times that he rates Rondo very highly and if someone wants him they're going to have to pay a hefty price. Especially if Rondo continues to play like he has so far. Two first round picks and a young potential all-star stud. And I don't mean McLemore type young potential. Much more than that.

And then we come to the point that there is just no team in the lague that needs Rondo, has what Danny wants and is willing to part with those assets when they can sign him in FA.

So, I think that if Rondo leaves, he will leave next summer as a FA and I think that the only real threat to take him are Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets. Knicks maybe if they get Gasol. Cuban and Morey will bring out the big guns to get him. They have established players and money with which Rondo could go for a championship.

But ultimately I think he stays and builds his legacy in Boston.

[Slartibartfast]

I think we look at this from the wrong angle sometimes. Other than familiarity, what are Rondo's current reasons to STAY?

Danny Ainge and the assets he's collected in the past year and a half. The Celtics have the assets to be in the conversation for any star that hits the market.

[bucknersrevenge]

I th[url][/url]ink we look at this from the wrong angle sometimes. Other than familiarity, what are Rondo's current reasons to STAY?

Danny Ainge and the assets he's collected in the past year and a half. The Celtics have the assets to be in the conversation for any star that hits the market.

Fair points. But being "in the conversation" don't mean "We will get this guy". And from Rondo's standpoint that could still be too much uncertainlty when compared with teams that are already ahead of where we are in terms of competing. For teams like Dallas, Houston, and Sacramento, he could be the missing piece. NY can dangle the opportunity to play with Melo and have the space to go after Gasol or any other big. LA could do the same. Not to say that Rondo won't value all those things. Just when faced with other options, I could very easily see him opting for another team's situation over ours.

[sully00]

Anyone talking about Rondo's rank on a team 4 or 6 years ago is derailing this thread and needs to stop. Take it somewhere else...far away.

I am not sure we need yet another Rondo trade thread but if we are going to have it lets keep it on point.

.

I am not sure who you are directing this to, but ReturnToGlory started the thread and his main point was that Rondo was 4th best player on a contender so he should be traded. Not sure how someone can derail a thread by discussing the main point of its author.

Wasn't directing it at anyone in particular at the time I was trying to go public service but since you could not accept that what was being done was derailing a thread I will specify.

Rondo was the 4th best player on the 2010 team

Honestly this has been discussed soooooo many times why do we need to beat this dead horse again? Neither side is going to change their opinions nothing left to do but see how it plays out.[/quote)

This is derailing a thread.

R2G said

Before people go crazy about this, just remember when we won and title and also made it back to the Finals. Rondo was our 4th best player behind Pierce, KG, and Ray.

His point about '08 and '10 is only to provide context to whether or not you can win a championship in 2014 or beyond with Rajon Rondo as your best player. Arguing about ranking of players in years gone by is not relevant to whether you trade Rondo today while you plan for tomorrow.

[KamikazeK]

[SichtingLives]

Never seen a stand still topic with no new insights get copy and pasted so many times. This forum may have to shut down due to lack of conversation if Rondo ever is traded.

[sully00]

Never seen a stand still topic with no new insights get copy and pasted so many times. This forum may have to shut down due to lack of conversation if Rondo ever is traded.

But it isn't a stand still topic. Whether he resigns in Boston is to an extent but whether the team looks to deal him has always been fluid. I am not saying the OP's take is fresh but if you have Perk saying that he thinks Rondo wants to resign, a Grantland article about him and his value, another article from something called hoops habit a trade to CLE, same thing coming from Tracy McGrady.

It isn't the forum driving this conversation this is a conversation going on all around basketball. This is a decision that dictates the direction of the franchise for the next 5 years or so I think it is crazy to sit here and be like "why are we talking about this?" It would be totally bizarre if we weren't.

[SichtingLives]

Never seen a stand still topic with no new insights get copy and pasted so many times. This forum may have to shut down due to lack of conversation if Rondo ever is traded.

But it isn't a stand still topic.

Hasn't budged one bit since June 26th. I'm not talking about lips flapping and journalists floating hot air, I'm talking about things actually happening pertinent to Rondo being on his way out of town, which is what this subject always purports to be it's central theme. It's all speculation, zero fact, not much different than many other threads...except the difference here is when it's a topic that is rammed down peoples throats over and over again, you'd like to think something new is being presented once in a while, at least to the end that it's worthy of a yet another thread being started over it. Why do you think so many people consistently roll their eyes every time this topic gets cut and pasted from the previous one?

I can't see much reason why this topic wasn't stickied a long time ago. Topics like this where nothing is changing but people want to keep the dialogue going, thats generally what happens with them. At this point I don't care if that actually does happen considering we're at least past the half way point with these, but my opinion on this has become just as relevant as any other opinion that has been regurgitated from any of the past threads since the groundhog day type theme has gained momentum over the course of the last year (if not more).

[FreeDrop]

I feel more than ever that we Must sign rondo. He is perfect for this team, for the style coach wants to play and for the talent we have. It's a must. This team can't run like it does without him. Give him max and keep this core and build around him.

[grindtime22]

Get us enough talent to get to the playoffs and watch Rondo when he shines brightest. From 2009 on, Playoff Rondo is on a whole other level. Yes we need some upgrades, but shipping Rondo away isn't the answer unless you are looking toward 2020.

That Bulls series in 2009 ,
That Cavs series in 2010 ,
Playing with the elbow injury in 2011 ,
That Heat series in 2012

I have no desire to ship away Rondo for peanuts, he is a star

[return2glory]

I want us to resign Rondo, if we can. Just not for the max or near max. Again, on any real good team, he is the 3rd or 4th best player. While he is hands down the best passer in the league, he is below average when it comes to shooting and getting to line line. He is also lazy on man to man defense.

If Sully and KO keep delevoping, and when Smart gets better in offense, and we add couple more talented players, then I'm good with keeping Rondo. But the talent has to and will get better around him.