I think they could, but it would have to involve Monroe. Probably something like Monroe+Jennings+expirings for Rondo+pieces. But would Dumars give up Monroe for a point guard coming off a major injury with a 2 year contract (i.e. could be a rental)? Besides, they already lack shooting.
I don't think Rondo will be traded. But if it happens, I hope he gets traded to Atlanta. It seems like a great fit for them and him. They could also make a solid offer. Something like Jeff Teague + prospects (Nogueira, Schroder) + picks. g Rondo g Jenkins f Korver f Millsap c Horford Essentially, they'd surround Rondo with good shooters on the wings and smart mobile bigs inside. I think that team would contend, assuming health. Other teams that would (IMO) be highly motivated to make offers are the Knicks and the Mavs. I'm not sure they have the pieces, though, even if they give up all their picks far into the future. Also, I don't want the Pacers to trade for Rondo. At this point it's too much risk.
Could raptors do it? Lowry and Gay for Rondo. And I do think Spurs will take a good hard look as well. The old man trio will retire soon.
Toronto and Indy are the only teams that you be both: (a) a good fit for rondo & (b) have pieces that boston might want. in indy's case, granger/augustin/picks aren't equal to cap space, young players and better picks which boston wants to rebuild. for toronto it would have to be lowry and picks. neither is a great return. its too bad he's not a good fit on the rockets. we could easily make the best offer if morey wanted to. i wonder if morey will still see it as "asset collection" or if he is now looking for the best fits he can find.
I don't think either one of those deals is as good as what Detroit would offer. Monroe, Jennings, picks, cap relief. And I also believe that if Rondo goes on the market Morey will try to get him. Lin, Asik, TJones plus 2 minimum salary guys(Brewer and Brooks or Reggie Williams) for Rondo, KHump, Bogans, and Pressey. You can break those guys up into 2 or 3 pieces and make it work. Asik for KHump.. and then Lin and the rest of the salary for Rondo/Bogans/Pressey. Throw in a couple first rounders. Could other teams offer more??? Sure...but they aren't. That's my point about going through the teams that would really try to come after Rondo. I am pretty convinced that Detroit wants him. I'm pretty convinced they'd throw up Monroe and Jennings plus picks plus cap relief. Is that better than what we could give them???? Jennings vs. Lin?? I just think if Ainge looked at those 2 deals on the table...he'd take ours. Asik is more proven than Monroe. At this stage...he's the better player. And Lin is much, much better than Jennings. Lin also is not going to present possible off-court problems like Jennings could. He's a much safer bet. not to mention a clearly better basketball player right now. So....why does Morey trade for Rondo, the expiring contract of KHump, and the non-guaranteed deal of Bogans????? Because it leaves him with options....options....options. That's why. Rondo has the ideal contract. He's playing for less than what he's worth (if he recovers fully from his injury). And the contract expires after the 14/15 season. IF...another superstar goes on the trade market...there is going to be no greater value on the market for him besides another superstar. There's Rondo. IF....another superstar wants to move teams in 2015 (Love or Aldridge) and we want them, we can make it happen by either signing them outrightor doing a sign-and-trade. Also, Rondo makes Beverley a very high-value trade asset on the Parsons' style contract...if Beverley continues to perform at a high level which I have no doubt he would. Not to mention if Rondo came on the market and we were willing to send that package out for him...we should be able to offer part of that package to help get Rondo somewhere else in exchange for better fitting pieces for our team. All of these things cause teams with superstars that could possibly walk away from them to come to the table and talk trade. If Minny can't get Love committed, if they sense he could possibly walk in free agency..they're going to come to the table and talk trade. If the Knicks sense Melo is going to walk away after this season....they'll come to the table and talk trade. Of course they could go to Boston directly and offer Melo. That could very well happen. And that would get very interesting. The deal wouldn't go down unless Melo agreed not to opt out. And I don't see Melo agreeing to stay in Boston. Melo wants to win in Ny or.... LA. He wants the huge market. That's why I say if Rondo goes on the market we will be heavily involved. and if we acquire him directly...it's a good thing. Because he either turns us into a Finals team (I think he would) or we have a huge trade asset for another potential huge deal.
