Keyon Dooling tells Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com that "switching teams is like switching clothes," and that trades can be a good thing, since you get to "live all across our beautiful country." Dooling's words of wisdom could be relevant for some of his teammates within the next couple weeks. Let's dive in to the latest Celtics-related rumors….
- Celtics GM Danny Ainge is pursuing Josh Smith and "other young studs," according to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News. Lawrence says that Ainge is offering up Kevin Garnett, and that Ray Allen and Paul Pierce could also be had for young talent and draft picks. As intriguing as Garnett's huge expiring contract is, I can't picture the Hawks parting with Smith and another player (for salary purposes) to rent KG for two months.
- While teams are calling on Rajon Rondo, the Celtics haven't been overly receptive, tweets Chris Mannix of SI.com. Given Rondo's talent, age, and contract, Boston would want a franchise player for him, says Mannix (Twitter link).
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe echoes Mannix's sentiment, writing that the Celtics shouldn't and won't trade Rondo for a player like Pau Gasol or Stephen Curry, who wouldn't necessarily advance the rebuilding process.
- Sources tell Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald that deals for Gasol or Curry weren't discussed, but that the Celtics would trade Rondo if it meant getting a top-five point guard in return, which I assume goes without saying.
- Another source to Murphy: "They’re desperate to (trade Rondo). He’s the only real asset they have. The other guys, the Big Three, aren’t assets at this point…. All I know right now is that if Ainge is calling me right now, I have him over a barrel." With respect to Murphy's source, I have to disagree on the values of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, who I think plenty of contenders would love to have.
Smith has always intrigued me, but would he stay in Boston long term?
Garnett for Smith? Get real.