Report: Celtics talking to Mavericks, Rockets about Rondo trades (with a few trade possibilities)


So the Rajon Rondo rumors are back, only this time there's a twist:

It's Woj doing the rumoring (if that's a word).

And following the Cs win tonight, Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the two teams the Celtics have talked to the most about Rondo are the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks.





This got me thinking: What do these two teams (realistically) have to offer for Rondo?

Well I opened up the trade machine, and got to trading.

My findings:

The Mavericks have a whole bunch of nothing to trade outside of guys who I cannot see them dealing from their core. That would mean Dirk, Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons and Monta Ellis. Dealing Rondo for any of those guys seems like a lateral move as they don't really have anybody ready to step in at those positions. If Dallas is going "all-in" they are looking to trade draft picks and young guys..only problem..they don't really have young guys. They also don't have the necessary big salaries to balance out Rondo's $12 million price tag.

Their most attractive piece is probably -- gulp -- Brandan Wright. Wright has had a career renaissance in Dallas, becoming one of the most efficient players in the league, albeit in limited playing time. He averages 8.8 PPG, 4 RPG and 1.5 BPG in just 17.7 MPG, giving him excellent numbers on a per-36 minute pace (17-8-3). He is also shooting 74.6% from the field, which leads the NBA, and he shot nearly 65% from the field last year. Again..he's incredibly efficient. But he is also a 27-year-old role player who is a free agent at the end of the season. So this is not some grand prize.

Here is one deal that would work that includes Wright.


Dallas would also have to include probably two first round picks (2015 and 2017) to get the Celtics attention.

My thoughts on this deal: I don't like it at all. Two picks in the 20s (most likely) and Wright for Rondo seems like really selling low.

On to the Rockets.

Houston is another team without a lot of big contracts to offer up to Boston, but they do have a more attractive piece than Wright in PF Terrance Jones.

I'm not 100% sure if Jones would be on the table, but Houston has found success with Donatas Montiejunas starting at PF in the place of the injured Jones of late (14-5 since Jones got hurt), so they may be comfortable in parting with the third year big man.

Jones was averaging 14 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 1.5 BPG before getting injured (after four games), and averaged 12.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 1.3 BPG last season at the age of 21.

As for who else would be coming back to Boston..it's the JET!!!! (as a pure salary dump), and rookie center Clint Capela (Houston could also give up the Pelicans first round pick, top-3 protected, in the deal).


Thoughts on this deal: Jones, Capela (who's basically a lottery ticket) and what will likely be a draft pick in the 10-15 area is a pretty good haul for Rondo. Jones is a keeper, and while he would add to the Celtics glut at PF, he's probably better than Sullinger and Olynyk. At the very least this deal is MUCH better than what the Mavericks can offer up.

Now it's important to note I didn't mess around with three team deals, and that could absolutely be something these teams explore. This was all done relatively quickly.

But I do want to caution the "Oh more Rondo rumors? Big deal" crowd. These are not your run-of-the-mill rumors from your run-of-the-mill writer. This is Woj, and where there's smoke there's often fire with him. Doesn't mean it's a lock, and Rondo's Celtics' career does seem to have nine lives, but it's something worth keeping a very close eye on.

RELATED:

Woj Bomb: Celtics in "Serious talks" regarding a Rajon Rondo trade


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