Chris Mannix: Rajon Rondo Return As Good As Could Have Been Expected For Celtics
With the Rajon Rondo trade still just hours old, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix joined Toucher & Rich to break down the trade and what it means for both sides.
Despite many folks in Boston being upset that the Celtics did not get enough in return for the four-time All-Star, Mannix said the Celtics did about as best as they could, given the circumstances.
"I do think both sides can claim a victory in some ways. Dallas, it's obvious. The Mavericks get an A-level point guard to play in a conference that's completely loaded with A-level point guards," Mannix said. "If you're Boston, you get another asset. Rondo's better than the haul that they got, he's better than a first-round pick and a couple of throw-in guys that probably aren't going to be with the Celtics in a couple of years, if not earlier. He didn't have a future here. At 28 years old, giving him max money with Marcus Smart already on the roster didn't make any sense.
"So I think both of these teams got kind of what they needed. Did I expect that Boston might get a little bit more, maybe a future second- or first-round pick with a lot of conditions attached to it? Maybe. But I don't think I would have expected them to get much more than that for Rondo."
Now that the Celtics have moved their star player, how long will it be until the team finds itself among the real title contenders?
"It's so hard to say. Danny [Ainge] was on your show talking about, maybe I'm paraphrasing, but the lack of need for a star in some ways. I completely disagree with that, because any team that's been anything, outside of the Detroit Pistons from years ago, has had a bona fide superstar on their roster. Whether it's Duncan or Tony Parker or Kobe with the Lakers -- you need an A-list player," Mannix said. "I just don't know how long it's going to take Boston to acquire that A-list player. Oftentimes, circumstance dictates which guy is going to be available. I mentioned Deron Williams, obviously we saw Carmelo Anthony from a few years ago. I just don't know which player's going to crop up on the market that the Celtics will be equipped to go out there and pursue. Kevin Love obviously was a great example of that this offseason. Invariably, it's somebody. There will be somebody out there that Danny Ainge is going to make a hard run at, and now that they have even more assets, they're equipped to go out there and get them."
"If they can [sign a big-name player], you could see this team back in the playoffs in a year and being in contention in two or three years. If they don't, it's an indefinite timetable for when the Celtics can be real contenders."
Listen to the full Rondo discussion below!
MORE CELTICS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON