NBA Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Have A Conundrum With Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo NBA Boston Celtics

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The Boston Celtics have made it clear that they are focused on rebuilding their team. The first sign of this was when they dealt both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets two summers ago.

The last piece of the 2008 title team is Rajon Rondo. It seems like ages ago when he was once considered the possible weak link on the Celtics after the team dealt for Garnett and Ray Allen in the summer of 2007. However, Rondo elevated his game and became a star on the rise and fan favorite by helping the Celtics win the title in his first year starting for the squad.

Some would argue that when healthy, Rondo is the best point guard in the NBA. In three out of his last four seasons, Rondo has averaged at least 11 assists per game. His quickness, deft passing ability and stellar defense are traits any general manager would love to see from their floor general.

However, at age 28 and failing to play at least 70 games during the past four seasons, including playing only a combined 121 games out of a possible 246 over the last three seasons, the Celtics find themselves in a tough situation. It has also been rumored in the past that Rondo wanted out of Boston, desiring a fresh start somewhere else.

In fact, you could tell that the Celtics were kind of bracing for him to demand a trade last season after they traded Garnett and Pierce away and they hired a new head coach in Brad Stevens. But it never came and Rondo struggled to remain healthy.

This is a very unique case for the Celtics, because they know just how valuable and effective Rondo can be when he is healthy and firing on all cylinders. But they also know that he is getting a little older while they are trying to get younger. It is tough to tell just how Rondo fits in with their game plan going forward, and it is even more difficult to gauge his trade value given his inability to remain healthy for an entire season, coupled with his odd personality.

But Rondo sounds like he wants to hang around, telling the Boston Globe recently:

“The fans, the people here, make me want to stay. The organization has been great. I can’t say enough about Danny and [majority owner] Wyc [Grousbeck]. When I walk down the street, the fans embrace me from Day 1. Even when we won a championship, people don’t just appreciate us winning. It’s more of a thank you. It’s a love for the game. These people here know the game and they care for it. They know when you’re not playing as hard as you can. The love I get is kind of overwhelming in Boston. Why wouldn’t I want to stay here?”

This makes things even more complicated after the Celtics selected point guard Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Smart is thought to be the heir to Rondo’s throne, and it will be fascinating to see how these two play together. Recently, it was announced that Rondo had broken his hand and would be out at least 6-8 weeks. Smart has to see this as his time to shine early with the organization and prove to them that they can depend on him right from the start.

So what do the Celtics do with Rondo, a four-time All-Star and polarizing-but-absolutely-brilliant basketball player? I honestly do not know.

No one would blame them if they started looking around at possible trades so that they could complete the “cleaning house” portion of the rebuilding project and start from scratch, but you get the sense from GM Danny Ainge that this is not his plan for his superstar point guard at this time.

The Celtics will be an intriguing team to watch this season, but the most interesting thing about them might be a guy who will spend a season more off the basketball court than on it.

This curious case of Rondo only gets more layered and provides more twists and turns as the years go on, and you get the feeling that he will always be a mysterious, inscrutable player for the rest of his NBA career.

Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.

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