Mark L. Baer – USA Today Sports Images
The Boston Celtics seem to be blowing up their team heading into the 2013-2014 NBA season in the interest of tanking for a talent-rich 2014 NBA Draft. As almost anyone interested in sports knows, the Cs traded away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett this summer and there has been plenty of speculation about the team potentially dealing point guard Rajon Rondo.
However, it seems that the reports of Rondo being on the market were a bit overblown. In a report from Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Celtics called the reports of Rondo being on his way out were “overblown” and also said they want to see how Rondo handles being the unquestioned leader under Brad Stevens.
Though Rondo is coming off of a torn ACL that he suffered last season, these latest rumblings seem to indicate that the Celts believe he is a building block for their future. However, Deveney also pointed out that a few other players currently on the Celtics’ roster are undoubtedly not a part of the long-term plan in Boston and are being shopped.
Deveney says that the Celtics would “love” to be able to trade Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Brandon Bass either this summer or before the deadline this season. Looking at the salaries of those guys, it’s not hard to imagine why.
Humphries is due $12 million this season, Wallace is due over $30 million over the next three seasons and Bass is due over $13 million over the next two seasons. Considering that all three of these players are either on the downside of their career or aren’t effective anymore and the fact that Boston wants to free up cap-room for next summer, trading them would definitely be in their best interest. What the team could get in return is yet to be seen, though.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.
