The Latest

Rajon Rondo traded to Dallas

John - Red's Army (@RedsArmy_John) December 18, 2014 Celtics News 100 Comments

The Rajon Rondo era in Boston is over

BREAKING: Celtics agree in principle to deal sending Rajon Rondo to Dallas for Wright, Nelson, Crowder & 2 picks. (via @ESPNSteinLine)

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 18, 2014

According to Woj:

Boston will send Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell to Dallas for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jamar Nelson, 2015 first-round and future second.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 18, 2014

I’m not a fan of this trade because it feels like the Celtics really sold low on Rondo, but that just goes to show how the market dried up. Brandan Wright will have an opportunity to prove he can be a big man who sticks around for the future, but if not, his $5 million can go away next year. Crowder is due a qualifying offer next season and he can come off the books as well. Nelson makes $2.7 million this year and has a $2.9 million player option next season. Considering his performance this year, he’ll probably exercise that.

As for Rondo, he leaves Boston with the fourth-most assists in team history but the team’s best in assists per game. He also is #1 in steals per game and third in total steals.

Rondo’s legacy in Boston depends on who you ask. I’ll save that for another time. In my opinion,this trade sets back the Celtics rebuild quite a bit, and it leaves the team without a single star around whom a team can be built. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have to be vaulted into contention for the West’s top seed with this mood.

Rondo could very well be wearing green and white and holding up a trophy in June… he’d just be hugging Mark Cuban instead of Wyc Grousbeck.

Curt Hays

Danny Ainge, I will never trust another word you say. Ever. You said you wouldn’t trade him, then you go and trade him for nobody. Way to stick it to Brad Stevens.
- KGino
  
  poor brad… I hope he doesn’t get run out of town before we surround him with talent
  - Curt Hays
    
    I hope he goes to Duke next week. Danny can eat it.
    - WardenOfTheNorth
      
      be happy for rondo. this is a much better situation for him. this mavs team has so many similarities to the big 3 teams from ’08-’12. he should thrive in dallas. besides, its no secret that rondo can’t shoot. he can’t lead a bunch of 1st and 2nd year players to title contention with jeff green as the only scorer. can’t fault danny here. gotta have a poker face in this league as a gm.
      - Curt Hays
        
        I actually AM happy for Rondo. He’ll get another ring, he’ll get a TON of assists, his fanbase won’t hate him, and he’ll get to see Perk all the time.
      - Sean McLaughlin
        
        Don’t forget he has a chance at working for a GM that doesn’t treat him like a $2 prostitute…
      - WardenOfTheNorth
        
        ha. i’m the biggest rondo fan here but this move was inevitable. its not like ainge is going to disclose his strategy/master plan to the national/local media. of course he has to play dumb and “lie” when he fields questions about a guy who was basically gone after the year anyways. maybe things could’ve been different if the c’s were winning, not blowing 20 pt 4th qtr leads, rondo wasn’t one of the leagues all-time worst FT shooters at the pg position, scoring 4 pt’s a game. rondo is slowly turning into shaq, at the line. it shocks me that teams don’t intentionally foul rondo more at the end of a close game. all that said, it sucks that he got traded. at least he’s going to a winning situation.
      - Curt Hays
        
        I’m just saying that Danny pulled the rug out from under Brad.
      - WardenOfTheNorth
        
        i’m sure brad knew all along. i mean, if the relationship is anything like it was with doc, brad should have some insight as to what is going on within the organization. i don’t think things are bad enough between danny and brad that ainge all of a sudden starts messing with the roster and trading guys without brad’s input or knowledge. they probably knew this was going to happen before the season started.
      - Coolrapquote
        
        Agree 100 percent
    - forever_green
      
      He should. I’d like him to stay but that would be best for him.
  - MadLad
    
    Rondo being named cpt was purely for this move. Nothing about Rondos history suggest he should of been a cpt. The promotion to captain was to boost his appearance of leadership qualities. Pierce was a legit captain.
  - Sean McLaughlin
    
    Apparently this is the new regime.
    - Curt Hays
      
      I didn’t vote for this!
      - Sean McLaughlin
        
        It was a coup…
  - CFH
    
    Ugh, the captain thing hadn’t even occurred to me. I hate that the league is structured to make it almost impossible to keep a player for his whole career between the lottery that rewards tanking and the progressively harder salary cap.
    - Sean McLaughlin
      
      Ask philly how rewarding it is.
  - CelticsBIG3
    
    You won’t have to worry about him getting run out of town. His contract will be up LOOOOONNNNGGGG before the Celtics are relevant again.
- Sean McLaughlin
  
  The smartest (meaning most despicable) move was naming him team captain just to make him comfortable. I’ve never spoken a bad word about Ainge before, but I’m done defending his actions. No reason to listen to any more interviews with him considering I can’t trust what he says.
jon

Noooooo!!!!! Man, this is bullshit
MadLad

Danny Ainge, your a shrewd GM. You saw the reality of the market and the long term vision of the Celts and did what was best, with 100% of the info at your disposal. You da man Dan!
- jrleftfoot
  
  get off his junk
Step

Well at least the Rondo detractors are happy, but now who will they find to blame? Who will Boston sports media find to rag on..lol.
- bill_nair
  
  I’d love for it to be Smart but he’s already a god in most fans eyes.
Alex Costa

Not a fan of the pieces we are getting in return for Rondo, but let’s face it folks, the way Rondo was playing for this team was uninspiring and it just didn’t flow too well with what Brad Stevens wanted.

I will sorely miss Rondo but at least I understand why Danny Ainge had to do what he did. Danny was really hoping that Rondo would play superbly during his contract year but he got the complete opposite so Rondo got traded as a result.
adam

So who are the celtics cutting from this trade? They have 2 roster spots and 3 players.
Curt Hays

It’s like Danny Ainge is forcing my team to no longer play with the same principles that make me love my team.
- GoKingsGoCeltsGoTigersGoNiners
  
  Danny Ainge has been horrible. He’s the worst!!!
  - Curt Hays
    
    I don’t think I’d go that far. The Celtics have had success while he was GM. He has done things to make me not want to watch my team. That’s probably what I SHOULD say.
    - forever_green
      
      Yes me too Curt. I wish someone like Tommy would just stand up and say Enough! Just sickening.
      - Sean McLaughlin
        
        I’m kinda thinking he’ll have something to say about it… Hoping he does!
forever_green

Just Terrible!

Us real fans will miss you Rondo very much!

Apparently DA wasn’t a fan of yours! Liar!
GoKingsGoCeltsGoTigersGoNiners

Ainge sucks!!!!
CFH

Well, this is depressing.

I’m not stunned like when Perk was traded to OKC.

I’m not disgusted like when Ray Allen took the remnants of his talents to South Beach.

I’m not sick like when Pierce and KG were sent to Brooklyn.

I’m sad. Rondo is a one of a kind talent and he was the last piece of the 08/09/10 teams. I’d hoped he’d be the connecting tie to the next championship era. I’d hoped it would be a short rebuild and that last year was rock bottom. I’d hoped he’d be a Celtics legend who stayed in green all his career.

But I trust Danny Ainge– not to tell the media the truth about what he’s doing (lying is his job) but to build the team back up. He’s why we had Rondo in the first place when half the teams passed on him and the Suns were willing to sell Danny a draft pick to get that hard-headed can’t shoot kid. (Remember in summer 07 when there were jokes all over the place that the Celtics were holding open auditions for point guard? All those jokes about how there was no one to pass to Paul/Ray/KG? But Danny knew what he had.)

This sucks, and the wait will suck. Danny will get back there, though.
- Coolrapquote
  
  You seem to have your emotions in check. And you’re looking at the bigger picture. Congrats.
- Lee in Oregon
  
  Danny will get us back there? Maybe someday but we’re going backwards now. It’s hard enough to attract free-agents to Boston as it was. But K Love had interest last summer BECAUSE of RR. Who wants to play in a cold city with a bunch of kids?
  - CFH
    
    He stepped backwards to step forwards last time too. He won’t get a Ray and KG opportunity again; that was once in a lifetime. But he will get something.
    
    I’m a Rondo fan. I reiterate, this sucks,
    
    But I’ve been a Danny fan longer. I know he knows more than I do.
JBird

First post ever… The trade is complete J U N K… Rondo for spare parts and some water bottles
- adam
  - Mike C
    
    Maybe we can get Ainge to wrestle a Grizzly Bear at halftime,… At least that would give me ‘One’ reason to tune in to the next game! The sooner he leaves, the better it will be for All Fans of the Celtics!
- bill_nair
  
  This deal would’ve been better if we got a Mavs water bottle.
Sean McLaughlin

Is there a site called cubansarmy.com? Ugh!
Amir Buxbaum

Here’s to you, Rajon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNpQCbHHdUc
- Sean McLaughlin
  
  Nice, dude. That play is the boot animation on my phone! Staying there too.
- adam
  
  great play, Rondo the last of the champions to leave. thanks for all the years Rondo.
romeo0119

Man wtf??? This deal sucks, we got trash back for rondo, what the hell man. I guess imma watch and root for the marvericks now.
Francesco Vaccarella

I’m sad for the team but happy for Rajon.
Mannie

I’m not watching any Celtics games for the rest of the season. I would rather take my chances with resigning Rondo than the horrible package we got back. Role players and high draft picks. wtf! Rondo has been my favorite player even during the Big 3 era. I stay in the Dallas area so I’m happy he is coming to a team here.

All the Rondo haters must be happy. I hope they see how good they will realize how good they had it with him here. Unappreciated. By the way National TV Rondo is back lol
forever_green

I’m just so mad fellas. Put me down for every swear possible.
- Sean McLaughlin
  
  Yeah I already tried, the site blocked the comment. :-/
Brad P

If it’s any consolation, we get to see playoff Rondo sooner than expected
- Sean McLaughlin
  
  It’s not… Though I will be watching.
Astarot

Listen I’m not surprised cuz’ of how Ainge is working on a trades. It’s just junk like smomebody said before. He sold best player and well can someone tell me why?? Really? Cuz he’s not a max player cuz he’s not a leader? cuz he’s not a franchise player? Non of this is true non of this.Cs going backwards all the way backwards and I don’t have a clue why. They let it go on their best player. I don;t get that part of the NBA I don’t and I don’t want to. You keep that kind of player with a unique skill set and build around him. Guy’s avg is almost tripple double what else do you really want. He wants to build from scratches with nothing left. Ainge gonna have to do wonders to get me back on his side right now he just embarrassed himself. And well all his talking how he wants to keep Rondo. Don’t even get me started he either lied in front of our very eyes or he dosen’t know how to negotiate with stars.
- Mannie
  
  I’m right there with you. Why trade away your best player when you are trying to get better? I wouldn’t blame Stevens if he decides to leave before his contract is over.
forever_green

I’m just glad DA can’t trade me. Can’t wait till he’s gone!
Sean McLaughlin

I think the market only dried up when the other GMs smelled Ainge’s desperation…
Sean McLaughlin

One thing to the people that say, that’s the business of the NBA nowadays…. How many stars are gonna want to come to Boston now that they see how they’ll be treated??? Not too many…
- forever_green
  
  Well first thing that has to happen is get a new GM..we have a great owner and a loser GM.
  - Sean McLaughlin
    
    Hate to say it, but Wyc will have to give him at least 3-5 years to see whether or not Ainge’s long term plan will work before he can justify getting rid of Danny. I’m quite sure Danny ran this by him at some point. Wyc is a pretty active owner. Who knows any of their actual plans though. No matter what they tell us we’ll have to take with a grain of salt. I’m embarrassed we’re actually blatantly tanking now, though. That much is certain.
Astarot

One question if you will. Duncan, Dirk why they are not gone from Spurs, Mavs? What about Parker, Manu why they are still there? Just think, I won’t agree they are better not Parker, not Manu I won’t agree it’s impossible to go that way today, DA just came up with something crazy from his crazy mind and there we have it. Waving goodbye to the unique player. Well maybe I’m wrong but I’m still in the era where floor general classic pass first PG is the guy to build around they had a chance to do it hell they even new it’s working (2008 remember DA?) And they still throw it all away cuz’ they can cuz they have a vision. How funny is that.
- adam
  
  let the Smart era begin. until he is traded away.
  - Mannie
    
    Smart has not even shown any signs of being able to run the offense.
    - Sean McLaughlin
      
      What i’ve been saying all day…
    - adam
      
      there was some sarcasm in my post. i guess it didn’t carry over.
- Dave
  
  Me too, the way the Spurs and Mavs built around their superstar was the way I envisioned the C’s would with PP and later down the road with Rondo after they got KG and Ray. That’s the way to keep your team a contender and ensuring your superstar retires happily and all in one uniform.
  
  DA during the Big 3 era valued drafting out of need instead of the best player available. Those players can be flipped later on for other players that he needs if need be. The worst out of all of them was J.R. Giddens such a waste. Signing over the hill role player vets to large contracts didn’t work out well either. Our Big 4 deserved better, they restored this franchise back to greatness and unforgettable memories that I will always cherish.
  
  I know I’m in the moment and all but it just sucks knowing it could have been so much more, every year it seems like we’re giving someone from the 08 team a tribute video:
  
  2012: Perk & Baby
  2013: Ray Ray
  2014: PP & KG
  2015: Rondo
  
  Sigh.
  - dontevertreadonme
    
    rondo is not a marquee superstar. duncan, dirk, PP, you build around those guys oviously they get you 24 points a game.
romeo0119

I just instantly became a dallas fan, the west is way more interesting to watch now, east coast basketball is boring now. And Smart is not a point guard, stupid ainge gamble and he’s gonna lose.
Mannie

Might as well trade Jeff Green. Hell, trade Bradley and Sully too!!
- adam
  
  i’m guessing green is gone soon also, but i dont think sully and bradley are.
- Mike C
  
  No Doubt! NUKE the Entire team! As Long as Ainge is the First One out the Door I’ll be happy! Worst Basketball trade in the Last Decade!!!
Step

I’m surprisingly more calm than I thought I would be. I really wanted Rondo to stay,but I also want to see him playing for a contender. Torn..so very torn.
Sean

Worst Danny trade since Perk-Green. I hate everything about the Lakers but tbh their offer sounded better and I would’ve done that before this. We couldn’t even get Parsons back?? Now we got 2 seasons of Jameer Nelson and some other scrubs.
Coolrapquote

Cheer up people. Be happy for Rondo. He must be ecstatic that he’s off to a contender.
Sean McLaughlin

Pretty much
- CFH
  
  That’s about it, yeah.
- Mannie
  
  Somebody should photo-shop Ainge with a Pinocchio nose on this pic.
  - Sean McLaughlin
    
    I saw one online but can’t find it again.
Brad P

The real kicker is we’re stuck with Nelson and Pressey…

Smart isn’t back yet *sigh*
zippittyay

Rondo was going to walk after this year. Signing him to a near max contract would have been a dumb move. He has not proved himself worthy of it with this team. I’m happy for Rondo going to a great team who needs him. We need some length, athleticism, and shot blocking on this team. We got all three AND an additional 1st round draft pick. Good job, Danny.
- forever_green
  
  I disagree.
  - Sean McLaughlin
    
    Most fans do. He’s been adamantly against Rondo since he started talking on this site. Don’t bother…
    - zippittyay
      
      I’ve been posting on this site since long before there was a RedsArmy.com.
    - zippittyay
      
      btw, GO MAVS!
    - Coolrapquote
      
      He thinks people are idiots who disagree with him. Doesn’t fully grasp the concept of an opinion.
  - zippittyay
    
    You think we could have gotten more (from whom?) or do you think we should have paid him 18 mil a year for what he has done for us lately and deprive him of his best chance to win another title?
    - forever_green
      
      If that was the best we could get? We should have paid the man!
      I thought we were about championships not tanking every year for mediocre players like Smart.
- Mannie
  
  I disagree. Signing him to a near max would not be a dumb move because the salary cap is going up with the new tv deal coming. All we got are a bunch of role players and high draft picks.
- dontevertreadonme
  
  finally someone who speaks some sense. rondo was gone theyve known that since they didnt land love over the summer. the reason rondo was traded sooner was they really did want to keep him as far as I know and were gonna get Love over the summer until the rigged NBA hooked cleveland up with Wiggins.
Sean

Just noticed we became a pro-tank team. Never thought the Celtics would do this in 2014.
- zippittyay
  
  We are now in the 9th slot in the East. We will be battling for the 8th or 7th spot and not the bottom spot. Write it down.
  - Sean
    
    You say battling for the 7th/8th seed like it’s a good thing. It’s not.
- Guest
  
  User Actions FollowingSean GrandeVerified account‏@SeanGrandePBP
  A lot of emotion right now. Something to digest amidst it..
  
  Celtics – Last 3 years
  
  With Rondo: 32-58 (.356)
  Without him: 43-53 (.448)
- zippittyay
  
  Celtics – Last 3 years
  
  With Rondo: 32-58 (.356)
  Without him: 43-53 (.448)
  - Sean
    
    Alot of those ‘with’ games he was coming off an ACL surgery. & the ‘without’ we had 2 HOFers which we don’t have now. Stop sipping the kool aid ainge got fleeced.
- Mike C
  
  EXACTLY! What a Disgrace to All the Legendary players that Helped build the Celtic franchise! Since we’ve ‘Nuked’ the entire team,… I just want to know When we’re getting rid of that JackAss Ainge? Minnesota must be laughing their ass off! This makes the KG trade look Brilliant!
Brick James

G A R B A G E T R A D E
ShawnCVD

This makes me sad for C’s, but SO much was sad for C’s since draft lottery night. Missing out on Top 3 draft spots, missing out on Love or any other -ahem- “Fireworks”. Then Rondo’s dismal shooting this season lowered his stock and overshadowed his unique skill set.

What Ainge did do was trade Rondo for very little long-term $$. No albatross contracts here. I can see Nelson wanting to sign with a contender and agreeing to a buy out in 2015. Ainge also got two more picks one being a first rounder.

What this will all amount to I’m not sure of. What I do know is Ainge acquiring assets is always a good thing. Hopefully some of these weaker picks get moved with Green for higher picks or a promising young guy.

As for Rondo I’m super psyched he’s off to a team in a great position that I actually like. Thanks so much for your play off prowess I was able to witness over the past six years. You will be missed for sure by this Celtics fan…
- Sean
  
  Sooner or later those picks gotta turn into something. Sully doesn’t count he was drafted before Nets trade.
BIG_HITTA1

Good morning Rondophiles. On WEEI’s “D&C” show today Jeff Goodman was on. Jeff is the ESPN Insider for the NBA. Jeff stated: “I have NEVER seen a guy walk into a locker room and suck the life out of the room like Rondo did”.
BIG_HITTA1

Rondo was instrumental in our ’07 title and other title runs. I wish him well.
The $12.9M trade exception hopefully will land us a super star.

In the Boston Globe today, Chris Gasper has a must-read article for C’s fans, stating the reality that in the end, Rondo was not that valuable (to the C’s or to other teams). A few quotes from the article: “This was a reality check for the Rondophiles. They must be drying their eyes with their number 9 jerseys, incredulous that their favorite player is gone and the rate of return for him is so little”.

Another quote: “Top 5 PG’s and eliete players don’t get traded for pennies that can be thrown into a wishing well of future contention. Bob Cousy in his prime would never have been dealt for such a pittance”. Of course this quote is telling all of us that RR is NOT a top 5 PG nor is he an elite player.

The Latest

Rajon Rondo traded to Dallas

Recent Posts

Videos of the Day: Mickey earns POM honors

Celtkicks: Sab One custom vintage Celts jacket

Your Morning Dump… Where Crowder flexes and Stevens tinkers

Recap: Celtics display toughness, get payback over Nets

Your Morning Dump… Where AB will be absent in BK

Rainin’ J’s Ep. 12: What the hell is suddenly going so wrong?

Your Morning Dump… Where everyone wants to take blame

Archives

The Latest

Rajon Rondo traded to Dallas

Like this Article? Share it!

Related Post

Recent Posts

Archives