Over the final days of the year, WEEI.com will count down the top 14 stories of 2014 in Boston sports. This is No. 3: Celtics trade Rajon Rondo to Mavericks. To read other stories in this series, click here.
The rumors began to swirl quickly one night, and he was out of Boston by the next.
After eight-plus seasons with the Celtics, point guard Rajon Rondo was traded to the Mavericks with rookie Dwight Powell in exchange for Brandon Wright, Jameer Nelson, Jae Crowder and two draft picks — a 2015 first-rounder and a 2016 second-round selection.
The Celtics said in a statement after the trade they were appreciative of what Rondo did during his time in Boston.
“We would like to thank Rajon for everything that he has done for the Celtics organization and the success we have experienced during his tenure with us,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said.
“We would not have won Banner 17 without Rajon and will always consider him one of our most valuable Celtics, both on the court and in the community working with kids,” Celtics managing partners Wyc Grousbeck, Irv Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca and Robert Epstein said. “We will always cherish the time he was here.”
The trade finally happened on a late December day, though the first discussions about Rondo leaving the C’s came a year earlier. The Celtics limped to a 25-57 record in 2013-14, and many thought Boston would unload its top player. But Rondo was sidelined for most of the year because of a torn ACL from the season prior, and he was limited to just 30 games. A trade would have to wait.
With one year remaining on his contract, the rumors brewed throughout the summer before the 2014-15 season that Rondo would be moved elsewhere. Reports said Rondo would be everywhere from Sacramento to Houston before the season started.
Rondo said that he couldn’t focus too much on all of the trade speculation. It was just part of the game.
“I don’t have too many feelings involved in this business,” Rondo said. “I’ve played my heart out for the game, but business is business. I can be here today, gone tomorrow. You never know. For me to get bent out of shape, or to feel threatened by the Celtics drafting a point guard, it means nothing.”
Again, though, Rondo was not traded, and was in Boston at the start of this season. But he had other things to concern himself with. Before the start of 2014-15, Rondo was again sidelined with an injury, this time with a broken hand. He had injured his hand while taking a shower and not on the court.
“Usually, how falls happen, you slip, and I slipped and tried to catch my hand,” Rondo said. “It wasn’t like a banana slip. I actually almost caught myself and landed on my knuckle on the windowsill at my home. So, that’s how it happened.”
Rondo made his triumphant return five weeks after undergoing surgery on his hand. He scored 13 points, added 12 assists and grabbed seven rebounds in a double-double performance against the Nets.
Coach Brad Stevens was impressed with the way Rondo handled himself in his first game back from injury.
“I thought he played great,” Stevens said. “I probably played him in the second half too long of stints for what I wanted to at one time, but I actually thought one of the best parts of the game for us was the fact that we went to the bench and we just kept going. And the bench made such a great contribution, and Rondo just kind of fit in seamlessly.”
Rondo continued to excel for the C’s, and by mid-December he averaged 8.3 points and 10.3 assists per game. He also had three triple-doubles as the Celtics remained in contention for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. These performances made him even more valuable to teams looking to bolsters their rosters.
Before a midweek game against the Magic, trade talks amplified. But Rondo didn’t let it affect his performance on the court. In one of his best games of the year, he finished 6-of-12 from the field to end with 13 points, 15 rebounds and seven rebounds.
After the game, Rondo tried to quell all rumors and tried to keep the focus on just basketball.
“I just want to be a better person each year, be a better teammate each year, and I think I’m doing a pretty good job so far, just trying to lead these young guys,” Rondo said. “I’m not that old, but they make me feel like it.”
But about 24 hours after the win, Rondo was on his way to Dallas to play with Dirk Nowitizki and the Mavericks. Rondo expressed his gratitude for the Celtics and Boston in a series of tweets after the trade became official.
Tweeted Rondo: My time in Boston has meant so much. I’ve grown up with this city both as a basketball player and person. The love I have for the most loyal and supportive fans in the league is unmatched. My teammates have shown nothing but heart the last couple of seasons. They are some of the hardest working guys I have played with and I wish them the best. I’ve experienced my most successful and challenging years with the Celtics, fans and city.
