Indiana Pacers Trade Rumors Continue With Celtics' Rajon Rondo Now An Option

by Tom Lewis on Nov 30, 2011 9:22 AM EST in Indiana Pacers Stats

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics heads for basket as Ronny Turiaf #14 of the New York Knicks defends in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

It is no surprise that the Indiana Pacers are involved in early trade rumors and free agent speculation thanks to the amount of both cap space and desire they have to make changes. But before the season starts on Christmas Day the Pacers may end up being mentioned in EVERY trade rumor.

The first big rumor involves the Boston Celtics moving point guard Rajon Rondo to the Pacers as part of a potential three-team deal for the C's to acquire Chris Paul. Maybe I'm too familiar with all of the blemishes on the Pacers roster but every time I try to add up some combination of players to include in such a deal, someone is getting screwed and it wouldn't be the Pacers.

There should be no doubt that every Pacer under contract is a potential trade target, but I can't see the Pacers giving up Danny Granger for a player like Rondo, unless they have more options in the hopper. Rondo would continue a tradition of Pacer point guards with a sketchy outside shot from T.J. Ford to Jamaal Tinsley to Mark Jackson to Pooh Richardson to Vern Fleming. None torched the nets from behind the arc although Jax had his share of "No, No, No...Great shot!" moments.

But Rondo can make plays and what he brings better than any of those past PG's is a perimeter defensive presence, especially on the ball, which hasn't been seen from from an Indiana point guard since Fleming. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. How will the Pacers be able to land Rondo, again?

Aside from the Pacers issues with the deal, it may not happen just because New Orleans gets a better deal elsewhere. Eric Gordon was mentioned as part of a package the L.A. Clippers my offer. That would be good for the Pacers too, since Gordon may be more willing to leave the Hornets than a stocked Clippers team when he's a free agent next summer.

Plenty of other rumors and speculation in the links after the jump as the NBA free agent market is now open for business. Speaking of which, don't miss Tom Ziller's complete list of free agent options.

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I’m really surprised that we’d go out of our ways to help the C’s get Paul. Rondo is a very good player on a team loaded with HOF talent. Just not sure how he’d mesh with our guys. We don’t have guys that can shoot the ball as well as Pierce and Allen. Love the defense that he would bring to the team.

I definitely do not want to trade out of the 2012 draft, which should be loaded.

Love the rumors coming in though. Should get very interesting moving forward.

And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Nov 30, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions

the celtics probably ask for hibbert

I would politely decline

by latrell spreewel on Nov 30, 2011 9:38 AM EST reply actions

don't know about that

Depends on if they want to pay Hibbert next year.

Indy Cornrows

by Tom Lewis on Nov 30, 2011 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

aren't the Celtics getting enough in Chris Paul?

I see the offer on the Indiana side centering around sending Danny Granger home to New Orleans. Hibbert or Collison could possibly get thrown in also for the Hornets. How much would that suck for Collison to get sent back to NO to play for ANOTHER coach?

by full sail on Nov 30, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

I want to see what this group of guys can do with Vogel and company for a whole season. Stay the course and build around the young core is the best thing to do in my opinion. We don’t know how well Rondo will play without Hall of Fame players surrounding him. Is Rondo better than what we have now? Sure, but unless it’s for the right price I say pass.

by gut19 on Nov 30, 2011 10:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions

+1000000^10000000

by latrell spreewel on Nov 30, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

Broussard ESPN tweeting

that Chris Paul won’t sign extension with C’s so rumors of CP3 to Bos no good anymore. Assume that would impact Rondo moving as well.

Indy Cornrows

by Tom Lewis on Nov 30, 2011 10:09 AM EST reply actions

You have to wonder....

If Boston stil wants to persue trading Rondo. Why trade such a great point guard? Isn’t Rondo know for having some attitude issues?

by gut19 on Nov 30, 2011 10:26 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

What NBA player doesn't have "some attitude issues?

Especially in the fish bowl that is Boston

Sup Jello Shot?

by IndyPacers on Nov 30, 2011 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe

This could be a deterrent to a deal, but if there’s one GM aggressive and confident enough to take on CP3 sans an extension with the intention of selling him on an extension later on, it might be Danny Ainge.

by Glenn A. on Nov 30, 2011 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Wouldn't prefer Rondo

I suppose I’m being more sentimental than logical, but I don’t want Rondo. I want a roster of likable guys and he’ll probably never fit that description. He’s surly, he picks and chooses when he wants to listen to coaches and teammates, and if things don’t go his away he takes things personal at the risk of affecting his performance (i.e. the Kendrick Perkins trade).

Don’t get me wrong, he’s more talented than probably anyone on the Pacers’ roster, but I’m one of those guys who wants to see not only a winning team, but a team with likable players. I’d rather see it through with a likable guy like Hibbert. But, again, I’m admittedly being more sentimental in this case.

by Glenn A. on Nov 30, 2011 10:53 AM EST reply actions

id bet my alleged son we dont get rondo

If Youre not First, Youre Last

by drsuessrunner07 on Nov 30, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions

The thing about Rondo...

He would go off his rocker without stable vets around him. He is a loose canon, and when he doesnt have HOF level guys keeping his head on straight and winning consistently, I’m skeptical as to how well Rondo will respond when that inevitably happens.

by BenD on Nov 30, 2011 11:42 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I worry about this too...

But he is special. There’s no denying that.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Nov 30, 2011 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

Bird better not do this!!!

by FortWayneKarl on Nov 30, 2011 1:03 PM EST reply actions

If he does it would show he’s more of a Celtic than a Hoosier! :(

by FortWayneKarl on Nov 30, 2011 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think

Pacers go after Rondo. I think we should prioritize, and go after Milsap. Cost us less, and he fills our biggest need.

by The_Dawson on Nov 30, 2011 1:11 PM EST reply actions

While I have my doubts about his character...

Rondo is one of the few players I’d agree to trade a 2012 draft pick for. While CP3 is by far the #1 priority for Ainge, I assume, this isn’t the first time he’s floated Rondo’s name out there, and might be willing to part with him as part of a salary dump-type deal that got him youth and assets and cap space, allowing him to make a push for one of next year’s FAs (for instance if Paul says no, as he’s indicated today, Deron Williams could be available). Of course, that all depends on how long Ainge thinks he has left with KG (who will probably retire in Boston for cheap, starting next year), Pierce and Allen.

I’d also probably be willing to trade Granger for him straight up, if I were confident I could get some value out of trading Darren Collison to someone else for a viable SG.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Nov 30, 2011 1:57 PM EST reply actions

maybe for the right price but....

if rivers and ainge have difficulty at times with rondo, imagine what kind of headache that would be for a young coach like vogel.

by denggoy7 on Nov 30, 2011 9:10 PM EST reply actions

right price means

posey or dahntay jones or solomon jones or maybe josh mcbob. but that’s not going to happen so i say no.

by denggoy7 on Nov 30, 2011 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

the (un)coachability aspect is worrisome, especially in Vogel's first year, but...

Rondo is an excellent point guard, with a pretty good contract. The Heat get all the hype, but Derrick Rose’s Bulls are going to be a force in the east for quite a while. Rondo can absolutely stand up to Rose on defense. Switch Rondo for any Pacers player during last year’s playoffs and the Pacers would’ve won their series against the Bulls.
Set Rondo up with Paul George and/or George Hill, and that’s a stifling defensive backcourt.

by full sail on Dec 1, 2011 1:19 AM EST up reply actions

The trick is...

Rondo needs to be surrounded by offensive playmakers. Aside from Granger our squad looked pretty offense-deficient last year, especially during that playoff series. I mean, there were guys who showed flashes, and of course George has a big ceiling, but if you’re going to put such an unreliable scorer at point guard, you’re going to need to put some players around him. I love Rondo’s game. I think he’s the catalyst for the Celtics, no matter what anybody says. Anyone who can casually average double-digit assists in today’s NBA (where so many iso plays are run for scorers and overall game scoring and pace are much lower and slower) is truly talented in my book. But who’s he going to pass to? I’d like to make something happen for him, but it would have to be in combination with a scorer FA (like Marcus Thornton) and I wouldn’t be willing to give up Paul George or Hibbert for him, so I doubt, if I were running things, I’d agree to a deal that would be mutually beneficial to both teams.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Dec 1, 2011 7:47 AM EST up reply actions