NBA AM: Celtics Won’t Move Rondo At Deadline?

Source Says It’s Highly Unlikely Rondo Moved At Trade Deadline

The 2013-14 NBA trade deadline is set for 3:00 p.m. (ET) on February 20, which is roughly just three weeks away. The buildup to the deadline will undoubtedly be filled with a plethora of rumors floating in the media, well rehearsed cliché answers from players on the trading block and executives around the league tirelessly working the phone lines behind the scenes.

While the number of deals completed at the deadline rarely matches the hype in the weeks leading up to the frenzy, this year’s crop of players to watch will continue to make things interesting.

One of the marquee names who has routinely surfaced in trade rumors this season is Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. The four-time All-Star recently returned to action after suffering a torn ACL in January 2013, but has long been considered one of the Celtics’ prime trade chips during their ongoing rebuilding project.

However, a source with direct knowledge of the situation has informed Basketball Insiders that the Celtics have demonstrated little activity as it relates to potentially moving Rondo at the deadline. The team has stopped short of giving Rondo a no-trade guarantee, but has made it clear it would take a substantial offer for the team to deal away its floor general.

According to the source, the New York Knicks have been the team with the strongest interest in potentially acquiring Rondo from the Celtics as the deadline nears. The Knicks’ interest should come as no surprise as the team has endured their own struggles at point guard with the trio of Raymond Felton, Beno Udrih and Pablo Prigioni underachieving. However, the Celtics have no interest in the Knicks’ current assets at the moment.

Rondo has appeared in six contests since returning from injury and is still attempting to regain his form posting averages of 6.7 points and 5.7 assists on just 28 percent shooting from the floor.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told the Boston Globe last week the team had been engaged in discussions with Rondo on a contract extension but the guard turned down the overture. Rondo’s refusal to sign an extension at this time came as no surprise because of how the Collective Bargaining Agreement limits the value of extensions. Come July when they’re able to offer him a three year extension instead of two, which is all they can offer right now, talks will be much more meaningful.

If things stay on its current course, the Celtics (15-32) are currently headed to the draft lottery. Here are some of the team’s draft assets in 2014:

2014 — Owed first-rounder (top-14 protected through 2015, otherwise becomes 2015 and 2016 second-rounders) from Philadelphia 76ers (Arnett Moultrie, Joel Anthony)

2014 — Owed first-rounder from Brooklyn Nets (Kevin Garnett swap) — will be lesser of theirs and Atlanta Hawks pick (Joe Johnson)

2014 — Owe second-rounder to Dallas Mavericks (Kelly Olynyk)

Pistons Not Actively Shopping Greg Monroe?

To say things haven’t gone according to plan for the Detroit Pistons this season would be an understatement. Pistons owner Tom Gores publicly stated before the season began he would like to see the franchise return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

As a result, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars added two talented players to the roster in Josh Smith (free agency) and Brandon Jennings (trade). But while the team remains in the hunt for a low Eastern Conference playoff seed, the on court product has been one plagued by night to night inconsistency.

Smith, who the club invested over $50 million in free agency last summer, has routinely struggled adjusting to playing small forward on a full-time basis – particularly on the perimeter. The Pistons envisioned Smith playing small forward with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond manning the power forward and center slots. The trio hasn’t worked well together, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. But offensively you can also see signs of ineffectiveness.

Smith is shooting a woeful 24 percent from three-point range on the season. The Pistons as a unit rank last in the league in three-point shooting at 31 percent.

As the trade deadline approaches the team is expected to explore the market in order to strengthen their perimeter attack. The team’s most notable trade chip has long been rumored to be Monroe, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer.

But according to a recent report by ESPN’s Marc Stein, sources say the Pistons are reportedly telling interested parties in acquiring Monroe that the emerging forward isn’t on the market at this time.

Monroe figures to continue surfacing in trade rumors up until the deadline as team’s try to wait out Dumars’ current stance of holding firm on parting with a talented asset.

Lakers’ Bryant Still Weeks Away From Returning

The Los Angeles Lakers (16-30) will likely miss the playoffs this season for the first time since the 2005 campaign. The unit has suffered from a rash of injuries throughout the season and has likely dug itself a hole to deep to dig out of in the competitive Western Conference standings.

All-Star guard Kobe Bryant’s absence from the lineup is the primary driver in the Lakers’ recent demise. The guard returned to action earlier this season, after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2013 campaign, but played just six contests before suffering a left tibial plateau fracture.

While Bryant is expected to return to action at some point this season, the team recently announced the guard could be out until late February or early March.

According to the team’s press release, Bryant was examined by team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo prior to Tuesday’s game and evidence of pain and swelling are still prevalent in his ailing left knee. The Lakers say Bryant will be examined again in three weeks and he will continue a regimen of non-weight bearing exercises, which is mostly of working out on a stationary bike moving forward.

Bryant averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in just under 30 minutes per game this season.