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The Boston Celtics have dealt all-star point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks, officially cutting loose the last remnant of the Celtics most recent NBA Championship squad.
Rajon Rondo will be shipped to Dallas, alongside forward Dwight Powell as the Mavericks are looking to add one final piece to place themselves firmly in contention for the NBA Finals this season. in exchange for Rondo and Powell, the Celtics will receive Jameer Nelson, Brandon Powell, Jae Crowder along with a conditional 1st round draft pick in the 2015 draft, and a second rounder in the 2016 draft.
This move is significant for both the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. So far, the Mavericks have played to a 19-8 record in the Western Conference and the addition of a point guard the caliber of Rajon Rondo will only bolster their performance through the rest of the season. Adding Rondo to a team that features all star power forward Dirk Nowitzki will no doubt make an already strong Mavericks team even stronger and help forge them into true contenders for the NBA Finals.
This move, though in an entirely different direction for the Celtics, is equally as important for them as well. This move officially sends the Celtics into a complete rebuilding phase, as they have done away with the majority of their big contracts and as such are looking to move into acquiring young talent through the draft and even potentially through free agency.
Rondo took to Twitter to address his departure, “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.”
Over the next 2 seasons, the Celtics now have an incredible 8 first round draft picks, more than enough to have a strong basis to rebuild their franchise. After trading away Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, coach Doc Rivers, and now Rajon Rondo, the Celtics have set the foundation for one of the most effective rebuilding processes in recent memory. Only time will tell if it was worth it.
