Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics are no strangers to the occasional trade rumors that surround the NBA, and it appears that their latest situation is no different. According to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will not re-sign with the team.
This certainly isn’t the first time a story such as this has been made about the All-Star point guard, but Macmullan claims that Rondo has told the Celtics that he wants out. In a behind-the-scenes clip of ESPN’s Around The Horn, she shares that information with Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
This video was brought to the spotlight by Jay King of Masslive.com, who first broke the story. It should be noted that while the above link has since been taken down by, the transcript of the exchange has already been circulated from the video. Certain highlights include what Rondo has allegedly informed the Celtics, as well as the long rumored tension between current Clippers coach Doc Rivers and Rondo.
Frank Isola: Hey Jackie, now that Kevin Love’s traded, you know who’s next up? Your boy.
Jackie MacMullan: Oh, I hope so. Just get it done.
Isola: Now it’s gonna be the Fall of Rondo.
MacMullan: I know it. And it will happen ‘cause he’s told him he wants out. And no one believes me, but that’s the truth. And I don’t see how you get 80 cents on the dollar for him. Tell me where. Tell me where. I mean, you know, the Knicks? People keep saying the Knicks. Yeah, well, who are they going to give you? The Kings want him, and the Kings will give you Isaiah Thomas and the big kid, McLemore.
J.A. Adande: They lost Isaiah, the Kings. Isiaah’s down in Phoenix now.
MacMullan: Oh yeah, that’s right. Yeah, you’re right. God, that’s right.
Isola: They do want him, though.
MacMullan: Yeah, and they’ll give up McLemore. But the thing is, Rondo’s already told ‘em flat-out, I will never re-sign with you. So that’s no good. Where do you go?
Isola: I wonder, you know — maybe something with Houston and the Brooklyn Nets. Maybe some kind of three-way?
MacMullan: Houston has interest in everybody, right? They always do. But the piece there was supposed to be Asik, and he’s gone now. So, I don’t know.
Isola: And so is Jeremy Lin. There was talk about Jeremy Lin and Asik. What about a team like Dallas?
MacMullan: I don’t know. Does Dallas want him? Who do they give you back?
Isola: We know the coach of the Clippers — I mean, they have Chris Paul, but I don’t think he’d ever take him.
MacMullan: He doesn’t like Rondo, remember that. I mean, he’s done with Rondo. They went a good, long way together, but that guy, Rondo drives him nuts. And they have Chris Paul anyway. They don’t need him. I thought maybe Phoenix might be interested because Ryan McDonough knows him, and they’ve got Bledsoe so maybe that works. Maybe that works, I don’t know. But then the Celtics have the same problem, unless they think Bledsoe’s worth a max.
Obviously this is one of those situations where we will all have to wait and see what develops from this, but if Macmullan is right then the coming months shall be very interesting. The Celtics have already gone on record recently to say that trading Rondo was not a high priority at this time, but if a unique deal were to come their way who is to say Danny Ainge wouldn’t bite?
Either way until Rondo is actually dealt in a trade, there will continue to be speculation on where the point guard winds up.
Kevin Durant Set To Resign With Nike
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant will be keeping his partnership with Nike intact. Despite missing out on the World Cup action taking place in Spain, Durant has had quite the offseason. The reigning NBA MVP was offered a deal from Under Armour worth between $265-$285 million. Nike countered the offer according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Darren Rovell:
With Durant on the verge of a move to Under Armour, sources told ESPN on Sunday that Nike exercised its right to match any rival shoe company’s offer to the Oklahoma City Thunder star. A source with knowledge of the deal later told ESPN that Durant has indeed signed with the Oregon-based company.
Nike countered Under Armour’s offer of between $265 million and $285 million and believes it will keep Kevin Durant for the next 10 years, sources told ESPN.
Nike, whose seven-year deal that guaranteed Durant $60 million is expiring, made an initial offer of about $20 million a year that was far from what Durant was looking for. Under Armour’s huge play for Durant had many believing that Nike would even let him go at that price.
The overall value of Durant’s deal with Nike could hit $300 million or more if his business continues to rise. That number is flexible as he will get a royalty on all sales in his line.
Under Armour has been trying to strengthen its hold in the basketball apparel world, and as a Maryland based company there was reason to believe that would sway Durant into signing with them. While the complete details of Durant’s deal with Nike are unknown, he took to Twitter himself to announce his return to the brand.
Excited and humbled to sign back with the swoosh!
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) September 1, 2014
Other News Around The League:
- In the aftermath of the Kevin Love- Andrew Wiggins trade, it appears that Timberwolves fans are excited for the new direction of the team. According to a report by Nick Halter of the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal, ticket sales have increased since the arrival of Wiggins: In the five days following the official announcement of the Kevin Love-Andrew Wiggins trade, the Timberwolves said they have sold 300 new full-season-ticket packages. That’s on top of 200 new packages in the 30 days leading up to the trade, when most fans knew Wiggins would be the centerpiece of the deal. The last week was the busiest for season ticket sales for the Wolves in three years. “It’s been re-energizing for our staff and our fans,” said Wolves Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Tanke. “It’s been fun to be a part of this week.”
- The Los Angeles Clippers are close to signing veteran free agent Hedo Turkoglu to a one-year deal. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: Free-agent forward Hedo Turkoglu is nearing agreement on a one-year, $1.4 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. After working out a contract buyout with the Orlando Magic and signing with the Clippers in January, Turkoglu, 35, averaged three points in 38 games. Once a tremendously versatile and productive offensive player, Turkoglu’s talent has declined significantly but he remains a serviceable veteran in limited minutes.
Adrian Wojnarowski also reported that the Sacramento Kings reached an agreement to trade Jason Terry to the Houston Rockets. The deal also includes Alonzo Gee and another non-guaranteed contract. Per Yahoo Sports: The 36-year-old Terry started last season with Brooklyn and averaged only 4.5 points in 35 games. He was traded to Sacramento at the trade deadline and didn’t play the rest of the season as he recovered from a left knee injury. Terry played in Boston in 2012-13 after eight seasons in Dallas, where he was named the league’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2009 and 2011. Gee came to Houston as part of a three-team trade in July that also brought Trevor Ariza to the Rockets.
Esau Howard is a regular contributor to Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.
The Rondo story is not good news for the Knicks. This means that Rondo will be traded before the trade deadline, to a team outside of the Division, if not the Conference. Knicks/PJax are placing their future on the coming free agency, with hopes to have Marc Gasol and Rondo available as unrestricted free agents. The Griz will likely agree to give Gasol the Max and Rondo will likely be traded to a competing team that will have a guarantee to re-sign.
Regarding Kevin Durant: its more obvious that he was distracted by this off court negotiation and that is the real reason he Quit Team USA (per Chris Sheridan).