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The Boston Celtics haven’t been shy about their interest in acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves haven’t really been shy about their denial of Boston’s rumored trade offers.
With Love to Boston apparently not in the works, the Boston Herald is now reporting that the Celtics could finalize the “blowing up” of a one time championship roster. The team already began the process last year by trading away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets, and if they can’t secure Love in a trade star point guard Rajon Rondo could be the next to go.
Rondo to this point has not expressed much interest in leaving Boston, but the star pass-first guard is heading into a contract season and would likely leave the team in free agency next year if improvements aren’t made. Beyond landing Love, it’s unlikely Boston is going to do enough to convince Rondo to stick around.
The writing was already on the wall last season, as the Celtics traded away head coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers and moved on with rookie head coach Brad Stevens. That passing of the torch at the head coach spot was probably the final key move to show everyone Boston was clearly headed for a rebuilding process. Getting something back in return for Rondo might be the true final step.
The only question might be, is where will Rondo go?
He surely won’t be short for suitors, but several teams in need of legit point guard play come to mind. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are two big teams that could use a point guard upgrade and could emerge in trade talks, while other teams like the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets could express interest thanks to a lack of two-way point guard play on their rosters.
It’s anyone’s guess where Rondo might be headed this early in the process, but if the Celtics can’t land Love in a trade, it’s probably a safe bet we’ll be seeing him in a different uniform come next season.
