According to several league sources, the Boston Celtics are in the process of finishing a deal that would send Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the night.
Sources state that the Celtics and the Mavericks reached an agreement that would send the four time All-Star point guard to Dallas in exchange for Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, and a future first- and second-round draft pick.
Rondo would join Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis, and Chandler Parsons in the Mavericks’ starting five, and the team is confident that they can sign Rondo to a long term deal following the season.
Rondo is in the final year of his contract with the Celtics. and had indicated to the team that he was intending to enter the free agent market following the season. The Mavericks have expressed dissatisfaction in the diminished play of Nelson and his backup Devin Harris, and were looking to land a high-caliber point guard in order to make a run in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Boston was already at the roster maximum of 15 players before the trade and will thus need to part with additional players in order to take in the three new players from the Mavericks.
The Mavericks were one of several teams to express interest in Rondo. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings were all considered potential suitors as well. The Houston Rockets were considered the biggest possibility next to Dallas, but dropped out of the talks early Thursday evening, allowing the Mavericks to make the move.
Rondo is averaging 8.3 points and a league-leading 10.8 assists this season. He has spent all eight of his previous seasons in Boston, where he won an NBA title in 2008.
