The Boston Celtics cannot seem to decide who their core group of players is. While Rajon Rondo is the center piece for the time being, who is on the roster for the long-term and who is getting sent packing by the trade deadline. Danny Ainge has not exactly been secretive about his plans to rebuild and load up on draft picks and salary cap space for the offseason. While plenty of teams are calling on trade packages, the Celtics are not yet selling.
Almost every member of the Boston Celtics (minus Kris Humphries) has seen their name pop up in a trade rumor. When a franchise is rebuilding, anyone is vulnerable to getting moved. However, Sam Amico of FOX Sports is reporting that Ainge intends on keeping Jeff Green and Rondo as the center of the team and building around the two players in the offseason.
With the playoffs out of sight, the Celtics are starting their offseason planning. They intend to maintain both Green and Rondo despite the amount of interest surrounding the two players. Most recently, the Atlanta Hawks have expressed heavy interest in acquiring Green before the deadline. Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports Atlanta has offered up DeMarre Carrol and more for the forward, but that is likely not enough.
Instead, the Celtics are aggressively shopping Brandon Bass before the deadline. The veteran is getting interest from the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Bobcats and Golden State Warriors. Sean Deveney of Sporting News reports Boston likes the idea of trading Bass over Green. The issue comes with Bass' salary. He is set to make $13.3 million over the next two seasons. Any team looking for a trade must be willing to take on that.
Stating that Green and Rondo are the players to build around could be dicey. Green is owed $18.4 million over the next two seasons. He has a $9.2 million player option in his final year. That is a heavy amount of money to keep on for a team looking to shed payroll and rebuild. Rondo on the other hand is no lock to remain with the team past next year. While Ainge has stated he and Rondo have begun contract negotiations, but nothing will get formal until the offseason.
