Report: Celtics willing to trade Rajon Rondo

Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Spears dropped this bomb this afternoon:

The Boston Celtics are exhibiting a renewed willingness to pursue trade packages that include point guard Rajon Rondo, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

As much as ever in his nine seasons in Boston, the Celtics have left strong impressions with rival organizations that they’re prepared to make a deal that includes Rondo, sources said. Boston has been engaged in discussions described as “serious” in recent days, but no trade agreement is imminent.

Boston’s asking price for Rondo remains “pretty high, probably higher than most want to pay,” one league official told Yahoo.

Trade talks with Rondo have been focused more in the Western Conference than Eastern, sources said.

Boston has been consistently shopping forward Jeff Green, trying to acquire a package that includes a first-round draft pick, sources said. Rondo being available would suggest Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is prepared to undergo a deeper rebuilding project and push harder for the highest possible draft position in the 2015 NBA draft.

We’ve been down this road before, but as someone who’d like Rajon Rondo to remain in Boston, I feel like this story carries a different tone. There seems to be some legit traction on trade talks involving Rondo.

But… any story that doesn’t specify teams or players shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

In related news, you should check out New Republic’s expose on Wojnar0wski. It offers fascinating insight into his career. He’s made a lot of enemies and the reporter lists Ainge as one of Woj’s favorite targets.

UPDATE:

Word around the league is that Boston has been making some initial calls on Rondo, not the other way. Team to keep an eye on: Sacramento.

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) December 17, 2014