Report: If Celtics can't land Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo could be traded

Damn, can we let one news cycle die before the next one picks up? 

With rumors heating up that the Boston Celtics may no longer be the favorite to land Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Herald is re-igniting the Rajon Rondo rumor mill. That is, if the Celtics can't nab Love. Apparently Rondo could be on the move as a result.

From the report:

If the Celtics cannot get Love, they are planning to continue with the longer and more methodical rebuilding process, a process that would likely see Rajon Rondo traded. (An NBA source said they would also have a taker for Jeff Green if they chose to move him.)

The thinking makes sense, if it's not a bit premature - the Celtics feel that adding Love would leave them with enough pieces to compete in the East now, and that's a worthwhile starting point from which to move forward. If they can't add him, Rondo alone is not enough, and a proper tear-down and re-build around the Nos. 6 and 17 picks, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger and the return for Rondo would be the preferable course.

It seems likely that there would be a number of suitors for Rondo in the final year of a contract that will pay him $12.9 million next season. The sticking point, as with Love, could be teams hesitating to pay full price with the chance that Rondo walks after one year.

Still, Rondo is an enticing piece. Just 28 years old, he rounded into form late in the season after returning from the torn ACL he suffered in 2012-13. In 30 games, Rondo averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists, though his shooting lagged behind his shot creation some.

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