Ainge Puts Halt to Rondo Trade Rumors

Boston, MA – The NBA Draft may be on Thursday, but the buzz is starting early for Danny Ainge.

Today the Celtics [team stats] executive director of basketball operations had to deal with an interesting Yahoo.com report involving point guard Rajon Rondo [stats]. The rumor had the Celts being turned down after offering Rondo and Ray Allen to Detroit for Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey. The discussion was said to occur between “low level” executives.

Ainge didn’t deny that talks occurred within the two organizations but he did splash water on the theory that the C’s were dangling Rondo based on his behavior – like showing up later for a playoff game against Orlando – or contract reasons. Rondo later explained the late arrival by saying he was in the parking lot speaking to a security guard.

“I’m not going to comment on which trade rumors are true and which ones aren’t true, but it’s amazing,” said Ainge. “And I hope you can all maintain your integrity in this world of media that we live in. It doesn’t seem that you have to have any source anymore. You can just write stuff and print stuff and things just come out of the air.

“It’s a little bit frustrating at times because I have to manage those players and their agents and their mothers and their wives … in some cases their children.

“The one thing I can assure you – I will never sit up here and say there is one player that is untradeable ever. But the notion we might be trading him because of some reason other than we think we can be better trading any player because of any (other) reason (is not true).

“Because of his contract situation I’ve heard speculation,” Ainge continued. “I’ve heard speculation of we’re dissatisfied with him or his attitude – that stuff is so false. He showed up late for a playoff game so we’re going to trade him. None of those things are true. We love the kid and we think he has a very bright future.”

Courtesy of BostonHerald.com

To me I just do not really understand these rumors.  The Pistons are still trying to pick up the pieces from the ridiculous Chauncy Billups deal and the Celtics are coming off a postseason where they were forced to play without Kevin Garnett. 

The Celtics are not far away from competing next year.  With a healthy KG and their returnees from last year, they will compete for a Eastern Conference Title.  Rondo is only going to get better.

Detroit, on the other hand, is done and must start over.  If they do not believe that they can build their team around Tayshaun, then this trade makes since for them.  They get a blossoming point guard and shed some salary.

Still, don’t bank on this trade going down.