The Boston Celtics have finally done it. Amidst all of the rumors of trading Rajon Rondo, the Celtics pulled the trigger this evening on a trade of the star point guard to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for players and picks. Earlier today we didn’t think the Celtics would do it, as it didn’t seem to be enough value for a guy like Rondo. ESPN had this earlier in the hour.
Sources tell ESPN.com that the Celtics and the Mavericks have an agreement in principle to send the All-Star point guard to Dallas for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and draft picks. The Celtics will receive a first-round pick in the 2015 draft and a second-rounder in 2016, sources said.
The possibility exists that other players will be added to the final deal, but a Rondo-to-the-Mavericks deal is expected to be completed Thursday night.
Mavs players are already starting to share their excitement with the media. Chandler Parsons had this to say in the last hour:
“To be able to get a guy like Rondo, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s not every day that you can get a point guard of his status, and the way he can pass the ball, he’s a difference-maker. To be able have that, with the combination of what we already have with our system and the players put around him, it’s special. It’s definitely exciting. Like I said, I hope it goes through because he’s a heck of a talent, one of [the] better point guards in the NBA.”
Anyone else excited for the possibility of a starting five in Dallas that would include Dirk Nowitzki, Rajon Rondo, Chandler Parson, Monta Ellis, and Tyson Chandler? Talk about ridiculous scoring potential, anchored by the defensive Tyson Chandler in the paint and the pick pockets of Ellis and Rondo on the perimeter.
Mark Cuban and the Mavericks have pulled off another great trade to put them in serious contention to win…now.
They gave up some decent talent now and in the future, but if they can stay deep enough this season, it may all be worth it. Depth will be the question come playoff time.
