The NBA Trade Rumors will continue for Rajon Rondo until the Boston Celtics actually trade him. Observers really find it hard to see the mercurial point guard staying in Boston full-term in what seems like a long and tedious rebuilding process.

There are so many possibilities and the usual suspects (Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks) do not have the trade assets that could entice Danny Ainge to pull the trigger. Ainge has a tendency to overvalue his players and play hardball rather than getting quarters for the dollar.

Those things considered, one realistic probability that is really being explored is sending Rajon Rondo for the newly signed Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns. From Grantland:

"One that keeps coming up in chats with team execs outside of Boston and Phoenix: Would the Suns deal Eric Bledsoe for Rondo? Ryan McDonough, the Suns' GM, loves Rondo and pushed Boston to draft him in 2006. The Suns are set to be capped out, meaning they could not simply sign Rondo in free agency. But they have three quality point guards, all younger than Rondo, and giving up a player like Bledsoe is just too risky without any assurance that Rondo stays long-term."

Yes, Ryan McDonough started out in Boston and he has a high regard for him. That definitely earned him some points because Rondo at the 21^st overall pick is considered the biggest steal of the 2006 NBA Draft. Only LaMarcus Aldridge (2^nd overall) and perhaps Rudy Gay (8^th overall) would be more valuable than Rondo now.

There are trade restrictions for Eric Bledsoe since he just signed a contract but both teams are biding their time. For the Celtics, they want to see the offensive capabilities of Marcus Smart. If he cannot carry the load, Boston will need a scorer more than the passing brilliance of Rajon Rondo.

For Phoenix, they got the Bledsoe insurance with Isaiah Thomas but decided that they can't let Bledsoe walk away if they want to be considered an elite free agent destination. Rondo will add a different dimension to the three point guard rotation.

Will this trade materialize before the February deadline? Who would say no?