NBA Trade Rumors: Rajon Rondo To New York Knicks For Amare Stoudemire? Boston Will Take Cap Space In Absence Of Superstar Offers?
The NBA Trade Rumors are looking ahead towards the season as no one expects big pieces to move prior to the season. Even the lord of the trade rumors, Rajon Rondo is likely to sit in a Celtics bench at the start of the season.
He is currently injured again and the circumstances are questionable for some.
Hoops website Sheridan Hoops broke down the trade options of the New York Knicks highlighted by the now expiring contract of former All-Star Stoudemire and first overall pick Bargnani:
"With Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani in the final year of their contracts, expect both players to be shopped - but only as cap clearing pieces in return for a star from a rebuilding team.
Hint: The Boston Celtics are rebuilding and need to make a decision on Rajon Rondo, who is coincidentally a free agent target for the Knicks this upcoming summer. The cap space that the expiring contracts of Bargnani and Stoudemire will provide could allow for the signing of Rondo next summer. If the Knicks can lock Rondo up now in a trade before he hits the open market, and without giving away quality assets, it's a move they'd surely consider.
The Knicks also have a logjam at shooting guard with Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert.
Smith isn't going anywhere since a vast majority of the league finds him undisciplined.
Hardaway Jr. is the most desirable young asset the Knicks have. In the recent past, players such as Landry Fields and Shumpert have taken steps back in development after promising rookie years. The Knicks could be willing to sell high on Hardaway Jr. for a lottery pick or as part of a package for a proven star. It's hard to see both him and Shumpert remaining with the team past the trade deadline."
Celtics GM Danny Ainge might lower his expectations and just accept expiring contracts and the ability to dump their own bad contracts in exchange for Rondo as interest continues to deteriorate