When Rajon Rondo entered the NBA in 2006, he did so via a trade. Drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 21st pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Rondo was then traded to the Boston Celtics, where he had played ever since. Despite leading his team to an NBA Championship in 2008 and taking them back to the title game in 2010, trade rumors have circulated around Rondo since the beginning. And, now that all of the “big names” have been signed in the 2014 off-season, Rondo’s name has started making the rounds once again.

This time, the courting team is the Houston Rockets. Earlier today, it was announced that Miami Heat star Chris Bosh would not leave the Heat and would return, leaving the Rockets empty-handed once again. With Houston trading Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik and allowing Chandler Parsons to be bought by the Dallas Mavericks to clear salary cap space, the Rockets are left with a depleted roster and are desperately seeking options to put next to James Harden and Dwight Howard.

As we just discussed on @SportsCenter, Rockets didn't match on C-Parsons because they wanted flexibility to keep chasing starry targets

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 14, 2014

So look for Rockets to re-enter trade game for longtime Houston target Rajon Rondo as well as try to work their way into mix for Kevin Love

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 14, 2014

While Kevin Love’s name has been tossed around by the Rockets quite a lot, the off-season moves they have already made make it nearly impossible for them to construct a deal worthy enough to draw interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Considering this, making a move for Rondo is potentially the best opportunity for Houston to land a big-name star before the deadline.

The move also makes sense for the Boston Celtics. Danny Ainge and company drafted Marcus Smart in this year’s draft and also resigned Avery Bradley, leaving them with a young back-court which can be built around. With no real All-Star caliber players to support Rondo, the Celtics are not likely to see another post-season run in the near future. Which is why it makes sense to get the most they can for Rondo right now.

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