Trading Rondo...

[HomeRunBaker]

This relationship has run its course and then some. Is it too late to even get a #1 in return for a rental when few teams have a need for him as a rental or want to overpay him to stay? I've said this for awhile that Ainge has been handcuffed by a supposed asset not having any trade value. Potential volatile situation with the drafting of Smart.

MacMullen didn't stop there. During some discussion about the trade market for Rondo (more on that later), Isola mentioned the Los Angeles Clippers and their head coach, Doc Rivers.

"He doesn't like Rondo, remember that," MacMullan said. "I mean, he's done with Rondo. They went a good, long way together, but that guy -- Rondo drives him nuts. And then (the Clippers have) Chris Paul anyway, they don't need him."

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/08/boston_celtics_trade_rumors_20_136.html

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

This relationship has run its course and then some. Is it too late to even get a #1 in return for a rental when few teams have a need for him as a rental or want to overpay him to stay? I've said this for awhile that Ainge has been handcuffed by a supposed asset not having any trade value. Potential volatile situation with the drafting of Smart.



http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/08/boston_celtics_trade_rumors_20_136.html

Interesting you post this because Rondo has apparently told people that he won't re-sign with the Kings if traded there: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rajon-rondo-wants-traded-not-150646597.html.

Though I would find it interesting when Rondo gets to the FA market and gets a lukewarm response, I wonder if a contract-year Rondo is going to cost the C's draft position. Or maybe it will help. Should be apparent pretty early.

 

[nighthob]

Interesting you post this because Rondo has apparently told people that he won't re-sign with the Kings if traded there: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rajon-rondo-wants-traded-not-150646597.html.Though I would find it interesting when Rondo gets to the FA market and gets a lukewarm response, I wonder if a contract-year Rondo is going to cost the C's draft position. Or maybe it will help. Should be apparent pretty early.

If I had to make a guess it would be that Ainge was the source for Jackie Mac's article to dampen the public reaction when Rondo's moved for an underwhelming return.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Has the ship sailed on Steve Nash & Julius Randle for Rondo?

 

[nattysez]

I completely believe both things Jackie said -- the Celts want to deal Rondo and have no place to send him that makes sense.  But that doesn't mean the Celts will take $.80 on the $1 -- it means they don't do the trade.  They'll wait until a point guard gets hurt, or a team otherwise needs a PG, and get a good trade.  "Just get it done" is the kind of thing that I'd assumed Jackie would be smart enough not to say -- the FO isn't going to trade Rondo just to trade him.

 

[nighthob]

Thing is, bad teams that lose a starter don't replace them, they just ride out the injury (see for example last year's Hawks, and they weren't all that bad before the Horford injury). Good teams might, but all they give you is .20 on the dollar. Because they view themselves as contenders and they're not giving you equivalent talent. You get low first round picks and salary filler.

If Boston could get .80 on the dollar Rondo'd already be gone. Right now they're basically leaking this story so that when they do take .20 on the dollar there won't be a public revolt.

 

[wutang112878]

Even if the return is pennies on the dollar they still might trade him if it makes sense for the development of the franchise.  Think back to the Antoine situation.  Danny got pennies on the dollar (I mean Raef Lafrentz?) but Antoine was pouting about not getting another max deal, Danny didnt want to build the team around Antoine's style of play and he had too much influence with the franchise at the time because fans loved him and the players thought he was a real leader.  Having Antoine there while Danny was in 'asset development' mode wasnt going to be a good thing. 
 
The Rondo situation is somewhat similar.  He is very difficult to coach, his habit to coast when the lights arent on is not a habit you want trickling down to the kids and he can really have a bad attitude because he is so bullheaded.  On the court its more likely that Smart is in the franchise's long term plans than Rondo and Smart's ideal position is PG and its really unclear if they can have Rondo and Smart both on the court at the same time because shooting is really their worst skill.
 
Another way to think about it is that most likely Rondo will not be on the court the next time this team wins a title, thats just reality.  The window to trade him will shut in 17  5 months unless you want to let him hit free agency and try to do a sign and trade where your return will probably be even less.  So the 'we have to get it done' thinking should start creeping into our thinking because the end is in sight.  Its like hanging onto to a money pit of an old car.  At some point you know you dont want it anymore and its useful life is almost over, so you better start thinking about how you get rid of it for some value whether its via trade at a dealer or selling it yourself.

 

[nighthob]

Rondo is a free agent this summer, the window trade him closes in February.

 

[wutang112878]

Thanks, I'm really stuck in the past

 

[moondog80]

Even if the return is pennies on the dollar they still might trade him if it makes sense for the development of the franchise.  Think back to the Antoine situation.  Danny got pennies on the dollar (I mean Raef Lafrentz?) 
 

They also got Jiri Welsch, who was an OK propsect at the time, good enough to be traded to Cleveland for a future 1st rounder that was in turn traded for...Rajon Rondo.
 
So now you know...the rest of the story.

 

[Sprowl]

They also got Jiri Welsch, who was an OK propsect at the time, good enough to be traded to Cleveland for a future 1st rounder that was in turn traded for...Rajon Rondo.
 
So now you know...the rest of the story.

 
I hate to spoil the punch line, but wasn't the 21st draft pick that brought Rondo purchased? Phoenix loves to monetize its assets.

 

[Curtis Pride]

 
I hate to spoil the punch line, but wasn't the 21st draft pick that brought Rondo purchased? Phoenix loves to monetize its assets.

No, they traded a pick for Rondo, Just as Moondog said.

 

[nighthob]

They also got Jiri Welsch, who was an OK propsect at the time, good enough to be traded to Cleveland for a future 1st rounder that was in turn traded for...Rajon Rondo.
 
So now you know...the rest of the story.

Actually, that pick traveled half way around the NBA before Boston bought it back. After LA broke up the band they traded the pick to Boston along with Gary Payton and flotsam for expiring deals and Chris Mihms. Boston then dealt it to Atlanta for the Antoine Walker rental in '05. The Hawks in turn sent the pick to Phoenix as part of the Joe Johnson sign & trade, and then the Suns essentially sold the pick to Boston for a late #1 a worse draft (as part of the compensation Boston gave the Suns cash and agreed to eat one of the Suns' minimal deals, if I recall correctly the whole thing worked out to $5 million plus another late pick for the Suns to sell).

 

[Curtis Pride]

Actually, that pick traveled half way around the NBA before Boston bought it back. After LA broke up the band they traded the pick to Boston along with Gary Payton and flotsam for expiring deals and Chris Mihms. Boston then dealt it to Atlanta for the Antoine Walker rental in '05. The Hawks in turn sent the pick to Phoenix as part of the Joe Johnson sign & trade, and then the Suns essentially sold the pick to Boston for a late #1 a worse draft (as part of the compensation Boston gave the Suns cash and agreed to eat one of the Suns' minimal deals, if I recall correctly the whole thing worked out to $5 million plus another late pick for the Suns to sell).

That's one way to describe the transaction. Officially, though, it was a trade:
 
Traded a 2007 1st round draft pick (Rudy Fernandez was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Brian Grant and Rajon Rondo.
 
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2006_transactions.html
 
What is not mentioned in the cash, but it doesn't mean that the Suns didn't get any cash as part of the deal. However, that 2007 1st rounder in the deal? That came from the Cavs for Jiri Welsch:
 
Traded Jiri Welsch to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2007 1st round draft pick (Rudy Fernandez was later selected).
 
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2005_transactions.html

 

[HomeRunBaker]

That's one way to describe the transaction. Officially, though, it was a trade:
 
Traded a 2007 1st round draft pick (Rudy Fernandez was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Brian Grant and Rajon Rondo.
 
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2006_transactions.html
 
What is not mentioned in the cash, but it doesn't mean that the Suns didn't get any cash as part of the deal. However, that 2007 1st rounder in the deal? That came from the Cavs for Jiri Welsch:
 
Traded Jiri Welsch to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2007 1st round draft pick (Rudy Fernandez was later selected).
 
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2005_transactions.html

Phoenix got plenty of cash. Sarver was in penny pinching mode, dumped Brian Grant's contract on us, avoided 3-years of guaranteed 1st round money to a low-first rounder in Rondo then traded Fernandez the following summer for straight cash while also avoiding 3 more years of a guaranteed rookie slot for a player who wasn't going to play for them.

Everything Phoenix gained in those deals surrounding Rondo was 100% purely about cash.

 

[TomRicardo]

This relationship has run its course and then some. Is it too late to even get a #1 in return for a rental when few teams have a need for him as a rental or want to overpay him to stay? I've said this for awhile that Ainge has been handcuffed by a supposed asset not having any trade value. Potential volatile situation with the drafting of Smart.



http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/08/boston_celtics_trade_rumors_20_136.html

 
At the end of the day you can always get No 1s from the Knicks. You could do something like Rondo and Crash for Stoudamire, Shumpet/Larkin/THJ, and 2 No. 1s.  

 

[HomeRunBaker]

 
At the end of the day you can always get No 1s from the Knicks. You could do something like Rondo and Crash for Stoudamire, Shumpet/Larkin/THJ, and 2 No. 1s.  

I feel like I just read this on another board.

Phil is building that team, led by Fisher, on the triangle with an elite iso scorer which is a staple of the triangle. Rondo is a horrible fit in NY and I think Phil recognizes this.

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

I feel like I just read this on another board.

Phil is building that team, led by Fisher, on the triangle with an elite iso scorer which is a staple of the triangle. Rondo is a horrible fit in NY and I think Phil recognizes this.

And Calderon is a perfect fit. New York's money next summer is earmarked for a big, I think it's safe to say.

 

[TomRicardo]

I feel like I just read this on another board.

Phil is building that team, led by Fisher, on the triangle with an elite iso scorer which is a staple of the triangle. Rondo is a horrible fit in NY and I think Phil recognizes this.

 
Deja Vu.  I have absolutely no doubt that Jackson would be against trading for Rondo.  I also have no doubt Dolan could give two shits about Jackson thinks at the end of the day.  Christ they are already fighting and they aren't even a season in.
 
You know something is bad when Steve Kerr walks away from Phil Jackson to the Golden State Warriors, a model of a functional NBA management* 
 
* This sentence may or may not have been recorded for Warriors' FO reasons.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

 
Deja Vu.  I have absolutely no doubt that Jackson would be against trading for Rondo.  I also have no doubt Dolan could give two shits about Jackson thinks at the end of the day.  Christ they are already fighting and they aren't even a season in.
 
You know something is bad when Steve Kerr walks away from Phil Jackson to the Golden State Warriors, a model of a functional NBA management* 
 
* This sentence may or may not have been recorded for Warriors' FO reasons.

Meh, I think Kerr's decision had more to do with being close to his family in San Diego. It's a quick 70-90 min flight he can make on off days or even following morning practice on a non-game day. The family aspect is a huge deal with Kerr.

 

[jose melendez]

I'd seriously rather let Rondo walk then give him away for 20 cents on the dollar.  Make him an offer and if he wants to be part of the future great, if not, so long.  I have absolutely no interest in giving him up fo the number 27 pick or what not.

 

[zenter]

I'd seriously rather let Rondo walk then give him away for 20 cents on the dollar.  Make him an offer and if he wants to be part of the future great, if not, so long.  I have absolutely no interest in giving him up fo the number 27 pick or what not.

 
If the Kings aren't a fit, then basically the only other fit is the Pacers. There are rumors that the Pacers are down on Hibbert. Rondo can't replace Paul George's scoring (obviously) but he is superior to George Hill in basically all ways. Hibbert has an opt-out and Rondo wants money. Building a trade out of this seems like a good place to start. Sully or Olynyk becomes trade bait and we undo some of the backcourt logjam in the process.
 
Absent the Pacers, I basically agree. That said, if Rondo is willing to do a 4-year deal (and PGs age pretty well, so he might be), there's still the outside chance at an S&T next offseason.

 

[jose melendez]

I'd accept Hibbert.  I think he can be salvaged.
 
That's the first ofer I've heard that doesn't disgust me.

 

[Brickowski]

 
If the Kings aren't a fit, then basically the only other fit is the Pacers. There are rumors that the Pacers are down on Hibbert. Rondo can't replace Paul George's scoring (obviously) but he is superior to George Hill in basically all ways. Hibbert has an opt-out and Rondo wants money. Building a trade out of this seems like a good place to start. Sully or Olynyk becomes trade bait and we undo some of the backcourt logjam in the process.
 
Absent the Pacers, I basically agree. That said, if Rondo is willing to do a 4-year deal (and PGs age pretty well, so he might be), there's still the outside chance at an S&T next offseason.

Really? IMHO Hill is a better shooter and a better defender, at least based on what we saw from Rondo last year.I don't see the Pacers giving up a 7-2 rim protector, even an underperforming overpaid one, for Rondo.

 

[EL Jeffe]

It'll be fascinating to see what kind of contract Rondo ends up getting. I can't envision a scenario where he tops the 4/48 that Kyle Lowry received...honestly anything north of 4/40 would surprise me (unless the Knicks do Knick things).
 
At this point, I'm fine with shipping him off for any package that doesn't clog the cap beyond this upcoming season just so they can move on from him and turn the keys over to Smart. 

 

[nighthob]

I'd seriously rather let Rondo walk then give him away for 20 cents on the dollar.  Make him an offer and if he wants to be part of the future great, if not, so long.  I have absolutely no interest in giving him up fo the number 27 pick or what not.

With Smart in tow Rondo has no part of the future. Boston will need to outbid other teams to get Rondo to give up the remainder of his prime to play on a cellar dweller, so I really don't see he point in holding on to him. The last thing you want is his habits rubbing off on a young team. These guys, outside possibly Smart, don't have nearly enough talent to get by on cruise control.

 

[knucklecup]

The Pacers no longer have Stephenson and will be without George all season. Hill is a better two than he is a one.

That would be a good problem for Indiana to have.

 

[nighthob]

Given how badly the Pacers are going to suck without Paul George I'm not sure there's really a deal there.

 

[moly99]

The Pacers aren't going anywhere this year irrespective of a Rondo for Hibbert move. They would be idiots not to try and bottom out to grab a second fiddle for George.

 

[nighthob]

The Pacers aren't going anywhere this year irrespective of a Rondo for Hibbert move. They would be idiots not to try and bottom out to grab a second fiddle for George.

That's what I mean, they're far more likely to be moving West and Hibbert for future assets than trading for a pending FA.

 

[gammoseditor]

The Pacers aren't going anywhere this year irrespective of a Rondo for Hibbert move. They would be idiots not to try and bottom out to grab a second fiddle for George.

 
IMHO, they have too much talent to bottom out in the East. 

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Larry Bird is a Rondo fan, and he's probably down on Hibbert.  I wouldn't completely rule out that unlikely swap.

 

[TheoShmeo]

Wyc's comments on Rondo were both candid and, I think, gratuitous.  What purpose does it serve to go public with those things (even if they are not a big surprise or hard to believe)?  I can't see them helping his trading value, even if what he said isn't exactly a state secret.
 
http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2014/09/grousbeck_rajon_rondo_stubborn_uncoachable_celtics.html

 

“He’s super stubborn,” revealed Grousbeck, adding Rondo is a good, generous kid who loves being in Boston. “I don’t know how coachable he really is.
 
“I know if you ask [former, long-time head coach] Doc [Rivers], ‘Was he the most coachable guy, or in the top half, 50 percent,’ he’d say, ‘No, he’s in the bottom 50 percent of being coachable.’ It’s hard with him,” Grousbeck continued.
 

 
Imagine the shit storm had Henry said anything like that about Lester heading into this season.  I get that Lester isn't actually like Rondo, but the contrast in how the Sox ownership and Celts ownership is analyzed and over analyzed is brought home but what I assume will be a tepid response to Wyc's comments.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Right on, TS. I doubt that Ainge and Stevens are all that thrilled to be reading those comments from Wyc. Rondo is now a lottery ticket - if the right team loses its PG at the right time, the C's can get a modest return for Rondo in a trade. If not, they will either play out the string or get pennies on the dollar.

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

Right on, TS. I doubt that Ainge and Stevens are all that thrilled to be reading those comments from Wyc. Rondo is now a lottery ticket - if the right team loses its PG at the right time, the C's can get a modest return for Rondo in a trade. If not, they will either play out the string or get pennies on the dollar.

 
This is a pretty common sentiment in Rondo trade talk, but I'm not really sure I understand it. In theory it makes perfect sense, but practically, I'm not sure I see any teams out there that are a) true title contenders and b) have superfluous trade chips laying around. In order for a deal like that to make any sense, the team acquiring Rondo would have to be able to offer value without diminishing their rotation. Looking around the league, I'm not sure I see who the true contender is that would still be all-in following an injury to their PG. I suppose I could see a scenario where Westbrook gets hurt and OKC, desperate not to squander Durant's prime, tried to deal for Rondo (though, let's be honest, that's not a championship quality team with Rondo in place of Westbrook). Beyond them, I'm not really seeing any in-case-of-PG-injury matches out there. 

 

[Brickowski]

The most likely scenario is that Rondo gets dealt in a sign and trade next July.

 

[moondog80]

 
This is a pretty common sentiment in Rondo trade talk, but I'm not really sure I understand it. In theory it makes perfect sense, but practically, I'm not sure I see any teams out there that are a) true title contenders and b) have superfluous trade chips laying around. In order for a deal like that to make any sense, the team acquiring Rondo would have to be able to offer value without diminishing their rotation. Looking around the league, I'm not sure I see who the true contender is that would still be all-in following an injury to their PG. I suppose I could see a scenario where Westbrook gets hurt and OKC, desperate not to squander Durant's prime, tried to deal for Rondo (though, let's be honest, that's not a championship quality team with Rondo in place of Westbrook). Beyond them, I'm not really seeing any in-case-of-PG-injury matches out there. 

 
Sort of a tangent, and I'm sure I'm not the first one to think of this, but some OKC picks 3+ years down the road could turn out to be pretty sweet. 

 

[wutang112878]

 
This is a pretty common sentiment in Rondo trade talk, but I'm not really sure I understand it. In theory it makes perfect sense, but practically, I'm not sure I see any teams out there that are a) true title contenders and b) have superfluous trade chips laying around. In order for a deal like that to make any sense, the team acquiring Rondo would have to be able to offer value without diminishing their rotation. Looking around the league, I'm not sure I see who the true contender is that would still be all-in following an injury to their PG. I suppose I could see a scenario where Westbrook gets hurt and OKC, desperate not to squander Durant's prime, tried to deal for Rondo (though, let's be honest, that's not a championship quality team with Rondo in place of Westbrook). Beyond them, I'm not really seeing any in-case-of-PG-injury matches out there. 

 
I'm with you 1,000%  As I see it there are 3 frameworks to trade Rondo:  #1 Trade him to a contender who A) needs a PG or B) will flip their PG for him, #2 Trade him to a non-conteneder
 
As for #1 A) There just really arent any matches to trade Rondo to a contender where the Celtics actually get something of value and the contender actually improves their starting 5.  One example of something that would work in theory would be Rondo to Chicago for Sacramento's 2015 1st rounder (that Chicago holds) plus maybe some decent player plus salary filler.  But the Bulls really dont want him if Rose is healthy.  As for #1 B): The odds of this are very remote, but perhaps the Bulls would trade Rose pretty much straight up.  Those are the types of really unique situations where Rondo might be able to go to a contender.
 
As for #2 its kind of tough for me to find a situation where a bad team is really desperate enough to add talent by giving away an asset the Celtics would want with greater value in the future than the present via either a pick or a young player.  Most of the rebuilding teams seem to be content rebuilding through the draft.  Sacramento seemed to be an unique situation where they were willing to give up something to try to get Rondo.  The most likely scenario here is to find a rebuilding team who is desperate enough for talent that they are willing to give up something of value because they feel they cant attract anyone of significance in free agency.  But again, its really tough for me to find a match here.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

You guys really think Wyc's comments are going to influence another GM who already knows this to be true? C'mon now.

Wyc strategically made these comments for two reasons. One, to protect Ainge from the public fanboy outrage when he's forced to dump him for a low-1st and salary filler and/or two, to protect Stevens if Ainge can't find a team to take him off his hands for virtually nothing and Brad is forced to coach him.

 

[wutang112878]

I dont see the value with either of these quite frankly.  I'm pretty sure Ainge does not care what the media or fans say about him.  He has made very controversial moves like trading Antoine, tearing down the original team he inherited, then trading the #7 pick to just dump Raef and all he got in return was the immortal Sebastian Telfair and Ratliff's expiring deal.  Most recently he traded Perk for Jeff Green made with an eye to the future when all the fans wanted to maximize the present.
 
Specifically what does this do for Stevens?  Between our alleged reluctance to give Rondo a max deal and Stevens 6 year deal it seems Stevens has vastly superior job security so its not he needs to publicly say something to demonstrate his support of Stevens over Rondo.  This is also probably counterproductive for Stevens because if Rondo is indeed both super stubborn and super hard to coach (which I agree with) then what are the chances that publicly stating that are going to improve either of those issues?

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Ainge may not care but Wyc certainly has plenty of skin in the game to care how his fanbase views his team during another lottery season. The Stevens/Wyc discussions could center around Stevens not taking any more of Rondo's shit like missing games for birthday parties (regardless if he's dressing or not) and demanding suspensions if/when this behavior continues which it surely will if he's here this season. Putting this out there sets the stage to put this on Rondo that takes the heat off Stevens (and Ainge).

 

[wutang112878]

I gotcha.  IMO if Wyc consulted with Danny or Brad before saying this, I doubt either of them would tell him that this would be a net positive for the situation and would probably prefer that he just stay mute on the subject.  If Wyc's doing it for PR like this, it just seems silly.  This really isnt going to sell more tickets when they go on a 10 game losing streak.
 
If the goal was really to put this on Rondo, I think a positive spin would have been better.  Like say 'Rondo gets a reputation of being stubborn and hard to coach, but I think this is his year to change that image.  If he can take this team and truly be their leader and show them how to be a professional, how to practice, how to compete every night and help them develop, etc  Then I think it will repair Rondo's reputation around the league and really help him take the next step in his career as he will be considered a true team leader and franchise player'.   Coddling would be 'Rondo looks stubborn because he is competitive' but I think this really puts the pressure on Rondo to live up to these expectations and does it in a Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People, way of giving the other person a fine reputation to live up to.

 

[nighthob]

The most likely scenario is that Rondo gets dealt in a sign and trade next July.

I hope not. I would rather get low firsts and expiring contracts now than low firsts and a Gerald Wallacesque contract or two next summer.

As Celtics fan I would say that the Rockets are probably the best trade partner since they have a potential lottery pick to trade. As a Rockets fan, though, I'd hate it. I still think the Lakers are the best bet, since they'd like to get the stars to attend games again and Rondo's flashy passes, combine that with the fact that they basically play every game on national TV and they'd get the best of him. Plus he'd have the in-house rivalry with the player he hates more than any other to drive him.

 

[mauf]

The most likely scenario is that Rondo gets dealt in a sign and trade next July.

 
I can't envision a situation where the C's would get a return on a Rondo S&T that they would prefer to simply freeing up the cap space.
 
Rondo's primary value is as an expiring contract. His cap number is $12.9mm, and the C's have a $6mm trade exception. If some club desperately wants to move salary during the season, Danny will listen. Otherwise, I think Rondo will play out the string, then sign elsewhere next summer.

 

[TomRicardo]

 
I can't envision a situation where the C's would get a return on a Rondo S&T that they would prefer to simply freeing up the cap space.
 
Rondo's primary value is as an expiring contract. His cap number is $12.9mm, and the C's have a $6mm trade exception. If some club desperately wants to move salary during the season, Danny will listen. Otherwise, I think Rondo will play out the string, then sign elsewhere next summer.

 
That is not how a trade exception works.  You cannot add a trade exception to a salary to pick up a bigger salary.  You can only use a trade exception to pick up a salary equal or less than the TPE and exclude it from the rest of the trade.

 

[wutang112878]

As Celtics fan I would say that the Rockets are probably the best trade partner since they have a potential lottery pick to trade. As a Rockets fan, though, I'd hate it. I still think the Lakers are the best bet, since they'd like to get the stars to attend games again and Rondo's flashy passes, combine that with the fact that they basically play every game on national TV and they'd get the best of him. Plus he'd have the in-house rivalry with the player he hates more than any other to drive him.

 
Not sure who you are implying.  Is it the same team with Kobe, or same building with Chris Paul?

 

[mauf]

 
That is not how a trade exception works.  You cannot add a trade exception to a salary to pick up a bigger salary.  You can only use a trade exception to pick up a salary equal or less than the TPE and exclude it from the rest of the trade.

Wait, I thought we didn't take back salary when we sent Hump to Washington, which meant we could take that much salary in a future trade over and above the salaries we would ship out in that hypothetical future trade. What am I missing?

 

[zenter]

Wait, I thought we didn't take back salary when we sent Hump to Washington, which meant we could take that much salary in a future trade over and above the salaries we would ship out in that hypothetical future trade. What am I missing?

 
The TPE cannot be bundled with anything/anyone else. So any Rondo trade needs to be balanced on its own. That said, the Crash expiring might help solve that. The TPE can be used to absorb contracts of a player (or multiple players) acquired independently (e.g., Marcus Thornton & Tyler Zeller for TPE).

 

[mauf]

Thanks zenter. That makes sense.

 

[moly99]

I hope not. I would rather get low firsts and expiring contracts now than low firsts and a Gerald Wallacesque contract or two next summer.

As Celtics fan I would say that the Rockets are probably the best trade partner since they have a potential lottery pick to trade. As a Rockets fan, though, I'd hate it. I still think the Lakers are the best bet, since they'd like to get the stars to attend games again and Rondo's flashy passes, combine that with the fact that they basically play every game on national TV and they'd get the best of him. Plus he'd have the in-house rivalry with the player he hates more than any other to drive him.

 
I think the Lakers made the Jeremy Lin move because they care more about selling jerseys than trying to win right now. They are f****d with Kobe's contract for the next two years anyway, so why trade for a malcontent who probably won't get along with the team hero as he chases a higher place on the career scoring table?