UPDATE (December 17 at 8:40 PM PST): While the Dallas Mavericks are serious suitors for Rajon Rondo, the Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams that have inquired about the point guard via USA Today’s Sam Amick:
Can confirm reports of trade talks w/ Dallas & Boston about Rondo, but I'm told Mavs haven't taken a pulse with Rondo's camp about Mavs fit
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) December 18, 2014
With Rondo set to be free agent, his view on next destination certainly matters. Houston, Indiana, Sacramento, Lakers, others have inquired.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) December 18, 2014
One of the biggest names that could be dealt before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 19 is Rajon Rondo. The one-time NBA champion is in the final year of his deal with the Boston Celtics and many anticipate he’ll be headed elsewhere in a trade or in free agency next summer.
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On Tuesday, a rumor surfaced that the Celtics may have renewed interest in trading Rondo, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports:
The Boston Celtics are exhibiting a renewed willingness to pursue trade packages that include point guard Rajon Rondo, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
There have been many conflicting reports surrounding Rondo’s immediate future all season long. There’s been talk of the Celtics not shopping their face of the franchise and then other reports of no one on the team being untouchable.
Apparently, Jeff Green could also be on his way out of Boston with the Celtics’ sights set on a first-round draft pick, via Yahoo Sports:
Boston has been consistently shopping forward Jeff Green, trying to acquire a package that includes a first-round draft pick, sources said. Rondo being available would suggest Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is prepared to undergo a deeper rebuilding project and push harder for the highest possible draft position in the 2015 NBA draft.
A trade package of Green and Rondo would be intriguing to a team like the Los Angeles Lakers. The point guard and small forward positions have been a problem in Los Angeles with Jeremy Lin and Wesley Johnson not living up to expectations.
It may be a stretch that the Lakers could offer an appealing trade package in exchange for Green and Rondo, but anything is possible with a general manager like Mitch Kupchak in the front office.
If unable to make a deal for one or both of these players, Rondo will likely be one of the Lakers’ main targets in free agency. Although nothing is set in stone in terms of Rondo leaving Boston as a free agent, if he does, the Lakers will almost certainly be one of the teams to aggressively pursue him.
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