May: What Will Become of Rajon Rondo?

What is Rajon Rondo supposed to do?

If he were willfully shutting out his teammates, that would be one thing. (He has been known to do that in the past).

If he was willfully tuning out his coach, that would be another thing. (He has been known to do that in the past as well).

If he was being a locker-room cancer, that would be one more thing. (Hold that unhappy thought!)

He has been none of these in 2013 and yet there it was, last week, the Latest Rondo Trade Rumor. He was supposedly a goner, headed (aka banished) to Sacramento.

Donny Marshall, the former Celtics’ TV studio analyst, said it was a done deal “at some time.”Honest to goodness, for an All-Star, this guy deals with more rumors than the Kardashians. Even when he’s not in uniform. Now he hears he’s going to the NBA’s version of Death Valley as the centerpiece of some unspecified blockbuster deal?

Rondo may well get traded someday. General manager Danny Ainge has long held the view that no one is immune from getting the dreaded “pack your bags” call. Ainge also has talked about dealing Rondo in the past.

But after looking at what has transpired over the first two months of the 2013-14 season, it makes no sense for Boston to do anything with Rondo but keep him.

He has yet to play a minute this season while recovering from an ACL tear 11 months ago. Wouldn’t you think if you were a team interested in prying Rondo away that you would like to see him on the court first? (Given Kobe Bryant’s latest injury, don’t you think the Lakers are having those thoughts right about now regarding that $48.5 million extension?)

Rondo has been the ultimate Company Man this season, eagerly unveiling all the latest fads and trends while sitting on Boston’s bench. (Apologies to Ray Davies.)

He has been invested, involved and engaged while watching the games, imploring teammates, instructing them, encouraging them. It’s been all good. Heck, the Celtics are even in first place!

So it is time for a reminder: People grow up.

The Paul Pierce of 2004-05 was a 12-year-old trapped inside a 26-year-old body. He hated Doc Rivers. The feeling was mutual. Now they’re picking out living room furniture.

I’ve always thought Rivers left Boston, in part, because he wanted no part of a Rondo-led locker room. Maybe a couple years ago, that was a legitimate reason. But Brad Stevens is the new boss and has embraced Rondo – and vice versa – from the outset. No preconceived notions on either side.

So why even think about moving him?

Ainge is 100 percent correct when he notes that there aren’t many talents like Rondo. All trade talk in the past dealt primarily with Rondo’s off-the-court stuff; he’s high-maintenance (or “complicated” to quote his agent) and he has a stubborn streak as long as Interstate 10. He had his moments with Tubby Smith at Kentucky. He had his moments with Rivers.

But it’s a new dawn and a new day in Boston. Before his very eyes, Rondo is watching the Celtics – his Celtics – grow up to become a better-than-expected team. Jared Sullinger is a certifiable beast and All-Star in-waiting.

Jordan Crawford – Jordan Crawford! – is the on-the-floor calming presence. (Raise your hand if you saw that coming.)

Avery Bradley can even shoot. Rookie Kelly Olynyk is a smart player and gifted passer for a big man. Stevens is an expressionless Iceman on the bench, given neither to Pitinoesque histrionics nor Popovichian wisecracks.

The pursuit last week of Omer Asik made perfect sense. The Celtics are small and get abused by strong big men. (Brook Lopez and the Detroit duo have had their way.) Asik would give them something they have lacked since Kendrick Perkins was sent packing.

Rondo’s name was not mentioned in the proposed Asik deal. Nor should it have been. Every Celtics fan right now wants to see how he integrates himself into the mix when he does return next month.

He could well be returning to a team that still leads the Hindenburg Division.

If things go south for Rondo and the team, then maybe Ainge will revisit trade options for his strong-willed point guard.

But not now.

You’re talking about an elite talent in a league where elite talent is rare but paramount. Let’s see how the whole thing plays out.

In the meantime, Celtics fans have hope. They have a young coach who knows what he’s doing and has the unfettered and unflagging support of management and ownership. The team has a bright future with a roster stocked with able twentysomethings and a slew of first-round picks (four of them in the next few years belonging to the cratering Nets.)

Rondo is a part of all that right now, even if all we’ve seen is his vast assortment of fashionable threads.

Soon enough, we will see his green and white professional uniform on display, and a more accurate picture should emerge.

Does he still have his bounce, his athleticism?

Is he the leader that Stevens wants?

Is he capable of playing at an All-Star level?

There’s no reason – now – not to think that the answers to those questions won’t be unqualified “yesses.”

Why even think about trading him now?

I wouldn’t, and I’m guessing Danny Ainge shares that sentiment.

Peter May is the only writer who covered the final NBA games played by Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. He has covered the league for three decades for The Hartford Courant and The Boston Globe and has written three books on the Boston Celtics. His work also appears in The New York Times. You can follow him on Twitter.