Danny Ainge: Rajon Rondo 'assured me that he wants to stay in Boston'
Until Rajon Rondo re-signs or goes elsewhere, Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge will have to answer questions about the point guard's future. This is because Rondo is 28, and he's heading into a contract year on a rebuilding team. On Sunday, Ainge spoke at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Worcester, MA, and he addressed the matter once again, via the Worcester Telegram & Gazette:
"The truthful answer is I really don't know," Ainge insisted. "I have no intention. I'm not trying to trade Rondo, but because he's a free agent this summer, he assured me that he wants to stay in Boston. We'd love to keep him in Boston.
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"The possibility of a trade is not out of the question," Ainge said. "Nobody is untradeable, but I don't see that happening."
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"I love Rondo," Ainge said. "He's a fun kid to be around. I've seen a lot of growth in him as a person and maturity through the years."
So, Ainge covered every possible scenario there -- Rondo is not untradeable, but the Celtics want to keep him and Ainge doesn't forsee a deal. The "he assured me he wants to stay" bit is new and noteworthy, but it also seems questionable. Does Rondo want to stay regardless of how Boston fares this season? Does he want to stay no matter what other roster moves Ainge makes? It might be true that remaining with the organization that drafted him is his No. 1 choice, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll pass up a chance to join a better team.
The rumors about Rondo wanting out or moving on have never been about him disliking the city or the franchise. They've been about him wanting to win, and the reality is that the Celtics are likely years away from competing for championships. Since Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded to Brooklyn, Boston has been in limbo. Unless Ainge can pull off an unexpected trade to bring in more talent, the best thing for both sides might be a deal. It wouldn't help Ainge's leverage to say that publicly, though, would it?
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