Donny Marshall: Rajon Rondo Part Of Trade Brewing Between Celtics, Kings
BOSTON (CBS) -- Well, here's a bit of news that wasn't expected on a quiet Tuesday afternoon.
Donny Marshall, formerly of Comcast SportsNet New England and currently an analyst for NBC Sports, said on the Yahoo Sports Dash that the Celtics will trade Rajon Rondo to the Sacramento Kings as part of a major deal.
Marshall didn't elaborate on the specifics and timing of the potential deal, but he did express great confidence that it is something that will get done.
"I'm just going to tell you, and I don't like the word 'sources,' but from the people that I talk to, there is a huge deal in the mix," Marshall said. "[Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny Ainge will say, 'No, no, no.' [The trade is ] for not just Rondo, but other players on this team, to a team out West, the Sacramento Kings.
"[Rondo] is likely a goner. The folks that I talk to, it's pretty much a done deal -- at some point."
Marshall said that the Kings are intrigued by the potential of matching Rajon Rondo with DeMarcus Cousins, and that the Celtics would be getting "a mixture of youth and athleticism, whatever that may be for the Sacramento Kings" in return.
"The Celtics, they're going to break it up. There's going to have to be some movement," Marshall said. "I don't think it's an issue of there being problems [with Rondo]. I think it's basically saying, 'Listen, we can alleviate ourselves a little bit more money, we may throw a [Gerald] Wallace in there, he's making $10 million this year.' And then they start to build from the bottom."
Rondo was just recently cleared to practice as he recovers from a torn ACL, suffered in January.
It's important to note that Marshall has missed the mark on some Rondo predictions in the past. He said in December 2011 that Rondo was beginning to "wear his welcome out" and that a trade may have been nearing. He reiterated that stance later in the month, hinting that Sacramento could be the destination, but a trade never did come to fruition that year.
The Celtics, whom many predicted would "compete" for worst record in the NBA this season, are currently in first place of the Atlantic Division, albeit with a 12-14 record. The Kings are currently 7-15, putting them in last place in the Pacific Division and the second-to-last spot in the Western Conference.
