Any trepidation the Dallas Mavericks or Houston Rockets have about giving up assets for Rajon Rondo may be eased by the fact that Rondo is open to re-signing in each location.
Rondo, an unrestricted free agent following the season, would consider staying in Dallas or Houston long term, according to a report from Ken Berger of CBS Sports. The Mavericks are said to be in substantive talks with the Boston Celtics about a Rondo deal, with the Rockets among a handful of other teams in discussion, according to earlier reports.
Once a trade framework is established, the team acquiring Rondo would likely reach out to agent Bill Duffy for assurances that the point guard is amenable to sticking around beyond the end of this year.
While an actual in-season contract extension is unlikely due to the restrictions of the collective bargaining agreement, Rondo and any team acquiring him would be free to discuss potential contracts for the offseason. Because the CBA is restrictive about extensions - Rondo could only get three additional years on his current deal with a starting salary of $13.9 million - the most likely scenario would see Rondo enter free agency and then sign a new deal.
That new deal may be expensive, as reports earlier this season have indicated Rondo will seek a maximum contract. Whichever team acquires him would have a major edge in free agency by owning his Bird rights, allowing them to not only offer more but also keep him on board without regard for the salary cap.
Rondo signing with one of the other interested teams during the season is unlikely. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are more realistic options in free agency than through trade, though the Lakers are said to have offered multiple picks and Steve Nash's expiring contract. The Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings have also been linked to Rondo, but it's unclear if he would be open to re-upping with either.
Whoever lands Rondo will get a major boost for at least the rest of this season. In 22 games, he's averaging just 8.3 points, but leading the league with 10.8 assists and chipping in 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
The Celtics have surprisingly been worse with Rondo on the floor than without him, and the team's offense has actually been worse with him playing for three consecutive years. Though limited offensively, he's a quality defender and a talented facilitator, and putting him in a winning situation with better teammates would make much better use of his talents than having him run a rebuilding squad.