The Boston Celtics are coming into the offseason with big moves on their mind and a Rajon Rondo trade could be in the mix after the draft pick of Marcus Smart and he could be moved with Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger or Kris Humphries if the team jumps back in on the Kevin Love trade talks and this comes as Gordon Hayward, Kent Bazemore and Isaiah Thomas are free agent targets for Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens.
The Celtics are coming into the summer after a tough year in Boston, but the team has a solid young core and they have started to build back the team under Brad Stevens after trading away Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce last year. According to the Boston Globe, the team has started making calls to free agents and names like Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward, Kent Bazemore and Isaiah Thomas could be in the mix as targets for Ainge and Stevens.
Rajon Rondo has been mentioned in trade rumors since last year and while Ainge has said that he is not planning on trading the star point guard, he could change his mind if he gets a substantial trade offer. Rondo is coming up to the time when he needs to sign a long term contract and whether that happens or not and for how much could be what decides if he stays in Boston or gets traded. The Houston Rockets have long been interested in Rondo and if they sign Carmelo Anthony they likely cannot pull off that trade, while the Sacramento Kings are another team that showed interest last season.
The Celtics were one of the teams mentioned in the Kevin Love talks and if those progress, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger could be potential trade chips with Rondo. The Celtics likely will stay with Rondo and build around him heading into next year and Hayward is a name that the team wants to sign. The Jazz want to retain Hayward, who used to play for Brad Stevens at Butler and he is a restricted free agent and that means Utah can match any deal. The same goes for Parsons with the Rockets, but Thomas is a free agent and while he is also a point guard, he could be in the wheelhouse for the Celtics.
Avery Bradley was one of the main players the Celtics wanted to retain this offseason and now they have done that, as ESPN and other media outlets have reported that the two sides have agreed on a deal. Bradley was a restricted free agent this offseason and teams like the 76ers and Lakers were interested in signing him, but instead Bradley stayed on with the Celtics for a four year deal worth $32 million. The Celtics now have retained one of their key players after Bradley was essential in helping replace Rondo while he was out and he averaged 14 points and shot over 34 percent from three point range last year.
The Celtics have some money to spend and after taking Marcus Smart in the draft they have more young talent to build around and whether Rondo stays or goes, the future in Boston is looking bright.
