Even before the ink dried on the NBA's new labor agreement rumors started to swirl about Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics. It appears the team is shopping the point guard in hopes of eventually landing Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.
This isn't the first time that Rondo's name has been bandied about in trade talks. Danny Ainge, the Celtics general manager, doesn't seem content with Rondo running the point. It is appears that Ainge wants a point guard that can actually shoot the ball from the floor, rather than Rondo who has no jumper and needs to drive to the basket to be an effective scorer.
What worries me about all this is what happens if no deal takes place for Rondo this offseason. Last year he pouted for months after his buddy, Kendrick Perkins, got traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline. I can just imagine how Rondo will react now that he finds himself on the trade block once again.
Please don't get me wrong I like Rondo, but he can be a little temperamental when things aren't going his way. When things are going right he can be one of the best point guards in the NBA, but I see him taking this latest news as an insult. A sulking Rondo does the Celtics little good and can poison the whole locker room. We don't need a repeat of what we saw down the stretch last season when the Celtics were sluggish and went just 15-12 in their last 27 games. Especially in this shortened season where the Celtics can't afford to get off to a slow start.
The latest news now has Chris Paul not wanting anything to do with the Celtics. Unfortunately the Rondo rumors are already out there and the damage may already have been done. Now the Celtics may have little choice but to deal Rondo for less than they initially intended.
During World War II there was a saying, loose lips sink ships. Well the loose lips that let the media know about the Rondo trade rumors may have torpedoed the Celtics season before it even starts.
Darren Pare has been a Boston Celtics fan for over 25 years. He grew up spoiled by the likes of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, but then lived through the Antoine Walker years. You can follow him on Twitter at dpare71.
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