According to Adrian Wojonarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Dallas Mavericks have become serious suitors for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.
As part of package, the Mavericks are willing to give Boston a 2015 first-round pick with limited lottery protection. Brandan Wright's name has also been thrown around in early trade discussions.
Before any type of deal can be made, Dallas needs to confer with Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, about the franchise's ability to re-sign him as a costless agent in the summer. Those conversations wouldn't happen until an agreement is in place.
Biggest reason the Mavs may be able to pull this trade off is because of how well Brandan Wright has played this season. Beyond all the highlight reels and alley-oops Wright has made this year, he's been a very efficient player in a limited role for the Mavs. Wright averages 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks on just 18.7 minutes per game. He could very well be a 16 and 10 type of player if he were getting starter type minutes, which makes him very enticing for a team like the Celtics who are in rebuilding mode.
Wright would be a big loss for the Mavericks but in all trades you have to lose something in order to get something of value in return. It seems like draft picks and a couple veteran pieces may be enough for the Celtics to pull off this trade, but this is all speculation of course.
Rajon Rondo could be the missing piece the Mavs need in order to make a serious run at being title contenders. Rondo is the floor general the Mavs lack and a defensive presence they sorely need. The Mavericks biggest need is help on perimeter defense, and Rondo is certainly one of the best at the point guard position. When you have great defensive play from both your point guard and center, it makes the court that much smaller for opposing offenses.
Rondo may not be able to shoot at a high rate consistently, but he still has the ability to drive to the basket and hit mid-range jump shots. His biggest asset is being one of the league's best floor generals and being able to run an offense effectively. Dirk Nowitzki loved playing alongside Jason Kidd, not because of his athleticism or shot making ability, but because J.Kidd knew how to run an offense and put his teammates in the best position to score. That's what Rondo brings to this Mavericks team.
Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, and Mike Conley are a major reason why the Mavericks have struggled against Western Conference playoff teams this year and will continue to struggle against the Western elite. Their inability to defend the point is where the Mavericks are most vulnerable and opponents know that.
Rajon Rondo solves that problem and can propel the Mavericks into a possible top four seed in the tough Western Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets have also come up as possible suitors for Rondo.