NBA Trade Rumors: Rajon Rondo For Greg Monroe? Boston Celtics Still Has No Franchise Big Man! Stan Van Gundy Makes Detroit A ‘Desirable Destination’

The NBA Trade Rumors for Rajon Rondo continue, despite his denials of a trade demand. Most observers feel that the denial has the nature of damage control more than a dismissal.

The trade demand rumor actually sprung from comments made by Jackie MacMullan in a radio show which was corroborated by reports from ESPN.

The denial was issued in a statement to The Boston Herald by a spokeswoman from agent of Bill Duffy, Rondo's agent: "Neither Bill nor Rajon know where this has come from, but it didn't come from them. They want this on the record. Neither has spoken to anyone about this."

Nevertheless, the trade is still a looming possibility. There are teams that may want to lock him up now rather than lose him to the Lakers and the Knicks who are willing to overpay.

The Grantland podcast BS Report which features Bill Simmons talked about the Rajon Rondo situation and linked him with two of this season's restricted free agents: Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons and Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns.

While Bill Simmons and guest Zach Lowe entertained the possibility of trades that involved both players for Rondo, they saw the Monroe trade as a remote yet concrete possibility.

Some of the factors they noted:

-Stan Van Gundy, the president and head coach of Detroit is bound to change the culture of this team. Rajon Rondo, being an expiring contract has some leverage on the deal. The Pistons, especially with SVG will not trade for Rondo unless he can gain some assurance that Rondo will stay.

-Rondo wants to be on a winning time, which is why he already dismissed the Sacramento Kings. The Pistons, despite the absence of roster changes, could display a different, winning style if SVG had his way.

The Celtics want Greg Monroe, but they don't want to give up Rondo just for him. However, as the clock ticks, Rondo's value continues to slip, and at some point they will face the possibility of losing Rondo for nothing.

These factors could turn the tide for both teams. While Monroe would be a loss, having a leader like Rondo can fast track the development of Andre Drummond. Also, forward Josh Smith is a close friend of Rondo.

This is still purely speculative even though these were "experts" on the podcast. Let's see if their projections come true.