The Boston Celtics could deal Rajon Rondo as confirmed in a recent NBA trade rumors 2014 update, while free agent Evan Turner will also wear the green and white next season.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in a recent interview that he is unsure of what he intends to do with Rondo. But he quickly added that the superstar guard wants to stay as a Celtic, and they are also interested in keeping him in Boston.
"The truthful answer is I really don't know," Ainge said when asked about trading Rondo via The Telegram. "I have no intention. I'm not trying to trade Rondo, but because he's a free agent this summer, he assured me that he wants to stay in Boston. We'd love to keep him in Boston."
Rondo, who averaged 11.7 points to go along with 9.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game last season, could become an unrestricted free agent next summer if no contract extension is reached.
Ainge admitted that they tried to negotiate a contract extension, but Rondo, who is set to receive $12.9 million next season, wanted to sign a new deal next summer for financial reasons.
It is unclear at this point how much they are willing to offer for Rondo. If they are unwilling to offer a max deal, other teams might be able to snatch him from the Celtics as suggested by previous NBA trade rumors update.
When asked if they would be forced to trade away Rondo if he asks for max deal, Ainge said that a trade is a possible, but he is quite confident that it will not happen.
"The possibility of a trade is not out of the question," Ainge said. "Nobody is untradeable, but I don't see that happening."
Ainge also said in the NBA trade rumors 2014 update that selecting former Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart in the 2014 NBA Draft had nothing to do with Rondo's contract situation.
Meanwhile, free agent forward Evan Turner is still Boston-bound despite the fact that he has not yet inked a deal with the Celtics.
Bret Pollakoff of Pro Basketball Talk reported that Turner's move to Boston is already set in stone and that the Celtics are just trying to keep financial flexibility other moves before inking a contract with the 25-year-old forward, who averaged 14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds last season.
