Chance At Rondo Extension After All?

From Marc J. Spears:

Contract talks between Rajon Rondo(notes) and the Boston Celtics were revived from the dead Tuesday.

Agent Bill Duffy said Celtics president Danny Ainge restarted talks by expressing a willingness to improve a possible offer to Rondo during a meeting at halftime of Boston’s 95-89 win in Cleveland on Tuesday. On Monday, Duffy told Yahoo! Sports that Rondo would not sign a contract extension with the Celtics and would become a restricted free agent next summer. The deadline for a possible extension is Saturday.

“Our position was firm, but Danny Ainge reached out and said they were willing to move,” Duffy told Yahoo! Sports in a phone interview. “Our mind was made up on this. But he said, ‘Let’s try to talk again, let us put some stuff together and talk [Wednesday].’ ”

Some may think that this is very surprising, but seeing that the two sides weren’t all that far away, in my opinion, from reaching an agreement in the first place (dollars wise), it doesn’t surprise me that Ainge would like to sit down and make a counter to his own offer. How do I think this one will end? Just like it has been all summer and pre-season, there will not be an extension in place for Rondo by the time Halloween rolls around. I’m not worried about it either because I know deep down that the Celtics want Rondo back and will match (almost) any deal that he receives on the open market.

Amar’e to Golden State?

Ric Bucher reported that there are serious talks about the Suns sending all-star forward Amar’e Stoudemire to the Golden State Warriors for Andris Biedrins, Marco Bellinelli and Brandan Wright. Bucher also went on to say that the deal, if agreed upon, would not be able to be made until the free agency period starts.

Big Al Staying Put

From RealGM.com:

A source confirmed to the Boston Globe on Thursday that the Timberwolves will not trade Al Jefferson to the Suns.

There were rumors late Wednesday of a deal that would send Jefferson and the sixth overall pick to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire.

One source acknowledged that the two teams discussed a trade, but another said that the Suns quickly turned down the swap.

Minnesota general manager David Kahn has even called Jefferson to tell him that a trade will not occur, according to one of the sources.

Now that’s more like it. Stick by your young stud big man and build around him along with the #6 pick. I knew Minnesota was in a transition period and their new owner is looking to make a big splash this offseason to really make his presence felt, but this proves that he isn’t desperate by any means. With rumors like this popping up, it sounds like me a lot of them are just wishful thinking by Phoenix fans. Can’t blame them for wanted current or former Celtic players…

Al Jefferson Heading to Phoenix?

From Marc Spears:

An NBA executive told the Boston Globe today that the Minnesota Timberwolves is working a deal with the Phoenix Suns that would send former Celtics forward Al Jefferson and their sixth pick in next week’s NBA Draft for All-Star Amare Stoudemire.

The Suns, which have dangled Stoudemire for some time, fiound a suitor in Minnesota that is in transition. The team announced today that coach Kevin McHale has ended his 15-year association with the team. New basketball of operations David Kahn is looking to take the franchise into another direction.

In my mind, this is a great deal for Phoenix and a desperation deal my Minnesota, especially if they don’t hammer out an extension with Stoudemire prior to the deal. Jefferson is just a more complete big man and if the 6th pick yields a good prospect, this would be a steal for the Suns.

Ainge Really Likes Tyreke Evans

CelticsBlog :

“While the Celtics have shot down a rumor that they were talking to the Suns about an Amare Stoudemire for Rajon Rondo swap … we keep hearing their name more and more in conjunction with a top-to-mid first-round draft pick — a sign that Danny Ainge must see someone he likes up high.

While various sources have different players pegged, there seems to be some consensus that one player in particular — Memphis’ Tyreke Evans — is an Ainge favorite.

If the Celtics are going to get Evans, they’ll have to get somewhere in the top 10, most likely the top five.

The Grizzlies, Thunder and Wizards all have picks in the top five and have been open to swapping their picks. While it’s doubtful that Rondo is their bait, Ray Allen and his expiring contract could be.

The Celtics could trade Allen to Memphis for a combination of Darko Milicic, Greg BucknerMarko Jaric. That could save the Grizzlies a little money now and a lot of money next year … but that seems like a stretch. The Grizzlies don’t need Allen and I’m sure he wouldn’t be thrilled to play there.

The Thunder aren’t great partners either. They don’t really have any bad contracts and while Allen would give them a nice veteran perimeter presence, they’re not giving up the No. 3 pick in the draft to get him.

The Kings have also reached out to the Celtics and would be willing to deal the No. 4 pick if they could get Rondo in return. The Celtics would likely want more than just the No. 4 pick for Rondo — and the Kings might be willing to throw in either Jason Thompson or Spencer Hawes

That leaves the Wizards, who are really intriguing. Allen is a fit in Washington. The Wizards are a veteran team that is looking for another piece to make it a contender. Allen also is in the last year of his contract, which means the Wizards could get some long-term cap relief if they put together the right deal. Would trading Allen for Etan Thomas, Mike James, Darius Songaila and the No. 5 pick make sense for the Wizards and Celtics?

If Boston can’t find a workable deal in the top five, several other teams including the Nets (11), Pistons (15), Bulls (16, 26), Wolves (18), Kings (23) and Grizzlies (27) are open to moving their picks. While those wouldn’t be high enough to land Evans, it would get the Celtics a solid pick in the first.”

Trading Up for the #2 Pick?

If you are a Celtics fan, you’ve obviously heard of the rumor that the Celtics are interested in the #2 pick of this year’s NBA draft. This would make this years’ draft much more interesting for Celtic fanatics as we currently only hold the #58 pick of the draft. Adding the #2 pick of the draft would definitely bring a new face to the team that would (hopefully) contribute right away, but who would we have to give up to get this pick?

The one name that seems to be automatically assumed to be part of any deal for the #2 pick is Rajon Rondo. To Celtics fans, if we are trading Rondo for #2, we’re selecting Ricky Rubio. For a team looking to win titles with the window of opportunity one or two years away from slamming shut, giving away a great (and on the verge of elite) point guard in the league is proposterous. As the league knows, Rondo is a jump shot away from becoming just about unguardable. And to trade him for an unproven commodity at the most important position on the court could be detrimental to the team’s championship aspirations.

Looking at the deal from just a talent standpoint, this is an awful deal for a Boston team that will only be content with winning the NBA title. But when you put your GM hat on and see the fiscal burden Rajon Rondo will undoubtedly bring to the payroll in the 2010-2011 season, maybe moving Rondo will keep the Celtics roster more flexible in the near future. If Rubio is as good as advertised, perhaps he can play some serious minutes right away. He’ll be on the floor with three future Hall of Famers, so that should ease his transition to the NBA game. But one thing he won’t have is the chemistry that Rondo has developed with the entire roster.

Do I really think the Celtics will trade up for the #2 pick in this year’s draft? No, not really. If we do, do I want to see Rondo on the move? Absolutely not. But if Danny thinks that this is the best way to continue to build the franchise, who am I to argue against it? Personally, I think there is a much better chance that Danny grabs a foreign player at #58 that will be a contributor in two years than the Celtics trading for the #2 pick.

Rondo and Ray Trade Talks

From RealGM.com:

Rumors that Rajon Rondo was put on the block by the Boston Celtics seemed to be message board fodder and sources say the report is not true.

“Can he be frustrating at times? Absolutely. But no one is ready to give up on him,” a Celtics source said.

“Whoever put the Rondo rumors out there obviously works for someone other than the Celtics.”

The source said that the Celtics may have had some “very minor” conversations about Allen, “but he’s not likely going anywhere, either.”

He concluded, “My guess is some other team talked to (the Celtics), mentioned Ray in passing, and then the other team took it to people throughout the league who accepted it as gospel. That’s how these things get started, and now Danny is going to have to get out there and refute all this stuff that he really had nothing to do with.

“Does the team need some tweaking? Most definitely. But there is no panic around here, and trading Rajon and Ray would be a panic move. That’s why it’s so absurd.”

Nothing I didn’t expect to hear, but Rondo can be frustrating at times? Sure his jumpshot is suspect, but that can only get better. If by “at times” they meant over a three to four possession stretch, then yes, he can be frustrating for a stretch of about two minutes, but I think the only thing he frustrates is opposing offenses and defenses.

As for minor talks about Ray, that has to be expected. He’s got a massive, expiring deal and can still contribute to a team in a huge way. With that said, I truly believe there may not have been a better mix of three future Hall of Famers like Pierce, Garnett and Allen and to trade Ray could be detrimental to the team’s chances of winning another title.

Marbury To Wizards?

From RealGM.com:

Stephon Marbury, according to a source, was contacting Flip Saunders almost on a daily basis during the postseason and there is a chance that he could land with the Wizards.

Mike James and Javaris Crittenton are the backup guards for Washington.

Not sure that the Wizards would even need Steph, unless they planned on moving Gilbert Arenas over to shooting guard. If that were to happen, Marbury and Arenas could possibly be the worst defensive backcourt pairing. Marbury showed some flashes of Starbury here and there but couldn’t play with any consistency. If he catches on with a team and goes through all of training camp, maybe he can become the offensive threat he has been his whole career. He showed that he truly can be a team player and hopefully he brings that attitude with him wherever he continues his career, be it in Boston or for another franchise.

Teams Selling First Rounders, Ainge Buying?

Danny knows how to work the draft and evaluate talent.

From DraftExpress.com:

A number of teams are already reportedly sending out feelers indicating that they would like to acquire a pick in the late first round—including the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. A few teams that are rumored to be looking to trade or sell their picks are the Oklahoma City Thunder (#25), Minnesota Timberwolves (#28) and New Orleans Hornets (#21).

As we have seen in previous drafts, Danny Ainge likes to buy draft picks, usually in the 2nd round, to bring in players that can contribute. The two noteable 2nd rounders that Ainge has acquired through purchase are Leon Powe and Bill Walker. People are pretty down on this draft because there really isn’t much star power, but I truly think there is some value in the late first round for some good role players.

Thibodeau to Interview for 76ers’ Vacancy

From RealGM.com:

Tom Thibodeau will be interviewed by the Philadelphia 76ers for their head coaching vacancy.

The interview was confirmed by a person familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an announcement has not been made.

It’s not surprising to see Thibodeau get an interview this quick as he is the premiere defensive assistant coach in the entire league. Any team looking to take the next step towards title contender status should be looking to hire this guy. What will be interesting is to see how the Boston Celtics will play on the defensive end if he were to leave us. Just as equally as interesting would be to see how he defends the Boston Celtics if he’s coaching in Philly. Either way, I wish Tom the best and hope he makes a splash in this league as a head coach.