The latest on the Celtics as they take on the Lakers tonight in Rajon Rondo‘s big return..
- Rondo is set to make his return from a torn ACL for the Celtics tonight, but the Celtics aren’t just showcasing him for a trade, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. The C’s have kept in contact with their point guard about their long-term plan, which focuses on the summer of 2015, according to Deveney. That’s when Rondo can become an unrestricted free agent, and he’s relishing the chance to take over as the unquestioned star of the Celtics, Deveney hears.
- Celtics GM Danny Ainge describes this week’s trade as a “building block,” and explains to reporters, including Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe, what the deal accomplishes for Boston. “They are not the deals that are going to turn the franchise around,” Ainge said. “I think this is just one of those. It opens up opportunities for other guys to play and it gives us some assets to draft players, such as Big Baby [Glen Davis] or Leon Powe that we’ve gotten with second-round picks in the past, or second-round picks that we’ve traded to unload contracts, as we’ve done recently or move up in the draft. Draft picks are very important assets and they are always tradeable, no matter how well they play.”
- Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders wonders how Rondo will look once he’s back on the hardwood.