Another bit of evidence that the Boston Celtics aren't pushing to trade Rajon Rondo came about Thursday. President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said on the Toucher and Rich show that the team offered the point guard an extension and will continue negotiations, according to CBS Boston.
Celtics offered Rajon Rondo a contract extension, Danny Ainge says
Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge lent more evidence to the public that his franchise isn’t willing to part with point guard Rajon Rondo.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Ainge didn’t know whether Rondo would sign an extension, but he did maintain there would be more talks the next two summers.
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“In the Collective Bargaining Agreement, there are limits on what can and can’t be done. Really it’s not that Rondo doesn’t want to accept an extension, but it’s just not financially smart for him to accept it right now,” said Ainge. “We didn’t think he would [sign], but we did try.”
Rondo’s contract ends after the 2014-15 season, and while it’s been widely circulated throughout the league that Boston will be looking to trade their star point guard through the rebuilding process, Ainge and the front office have held firm that the point guard is part of the future. Boston will have a very open cap situation once Rondo’s deal ends in the summer of 2015, and a report by the Sporting News’ Sean Deveney indicated both player and team were willing to wait it out together while working to rebuild a contender.
Ainge’s comment on Thursday only bolstered that belief.
Rondo returned from an ACL injury in the past week and has played in three games under restricted minutes. He has averaged 5.0 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game since his return, and his value on the trade market likely won't inflate until he proves he is back to his old form. Even if the Celtics do change their stance of keeping Rondo, it's not likely to happen in the near future with the 2014 NBA trade deadline less than a month away.
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