The Knicks still have their eyes on Rajon Rondo, the NBA Trade Rumors champion. The Madison Square Garden hopefuls finally have the Amare Stoudemire contract as an asset next season because it's expiring. They can also take back the bad contract Boston needs to dump.

 The scenario was not entirely new. The details were brought up by Sam Amick of USA Today:

"Despite the consistent claims from Celtics general manager Danny Ainge that Rondo isn't available, the Knicks have a strong belief that he can be had if - in a nod to another show - the price is right. They can offer the likes of Amar'e Stoudemire (one season remaining after this one, at $23.4 million) while taking future money back (such as Gerald Wallace and/or Jeff Green) and helping Ainge clear the way for the summer of 2015 that is known to be a priority of his."

That will make the Boston Celtics the prime player for the 2015 free agents. Possible franchise players in that batch include Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rondo himself. That field will also have Tony Parker, Goran Dragic, Monta Ellis, Paul Millsap. The Knicks will lose their leverage in 2015, but Rondo is their prime target anyway. Also, if they execute that trade this season or on draft day, that will be great insurance for Melo to stay.

The Knicks have endured the Amare Stoudemire mistake for so long.  Many are still on the fence about the Carmelo Anthony trade and all the assets they flipped for him. But the trade for Rondo would be the most reasonable and may result in New York being a..wait for it..a contender again.

Will Boston bite? There are no assets here except cap relief, that may translate into nothing if they don't get a franchise player in the summer of 2015. However, Basketball Insiders gives the Celtics a reality check: "Come this time next year the Celtics will feel a lot more pressure to trade Rondo unless they want to risk losing him without getting anything in return during the offseason."