Rondo trade appears unlikely before deadline
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo continues to be mentioned in trade rumors, but it doesn't appear that he will be going anywhere.
Rondo's agent, Billy Duffy, told USA Today that Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge assured him Rondo won't be dealt to another team.
Meanwhile, ESPN.com reported that Rondo is available but that a trade is improbable because of his knee injury. Rondo underwent season-ending surgery last week to repair a torn ACL
"(Ainge) was emphatic that they would not trade Rajon Rondo," Duffy told USA Today. "He said, 'We love him, and he's our guy moving forward.' Everybody is tradeable, and there's always a bunch of dialogue with every player in the league who doesn't have a no-trade clause, or LeBron James and a few other guys.'"
While Ainge continues to receive calls about Rondo, he said it's unlikely that Rondo or any other Boston trades will be made before the 3 p.m. ET Thursday deadline. That includes the pre-All-Star Game rumored deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for center Dwight Howard. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak reiterated this week that Howard is not on the market.
"There's been a lot of conversation around the league, and we've been very busy," Ainge said, according to ESPN.com. "Trades are very challenging to make, and then on top of that we like our guys. I like watching this team play, I like the personality of our team. We just need to find a way to give them the best chance to win with the resources we have."
