Jeff Green is the new Rajon Rondo.
That was Danny Ainge’s take when the Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations was posed a series of questions about Green’s trade prospects Thursday morning. In a radio interview, Ainge quipped how easily media members have transitioned from asking about the since-traded point guard to the still-here forward.
At the same time, the simple fact that the last round of Celtics rumors preceded Rondo being dealt to the Dallas Mavericks makes it harder for Ainge to dismiss the latest reports involving Green.
“You never know when you’re in close negotiations,” Ainge said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich.” “Suffice it to say, we’ve had many phone calls around the league. It’s that time of year and there are going to be a lot of rumors, especially when you’re a team who has won (only) 12 games.”
Green is the new Rondo is yet another way: He’s now the Celtics’ best player. At least he’s played like it at times. Despite a poor showing in Wednesday night’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, Green leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game.
“Jeff has been our best player this year and has had a fantastic year,” Ainge said. “(Wednesday) night, he didn’t have a good game — he got in foul trouble early — but he hit two big shots to seal the victory down the stretch. He has been our most consistent scorer.”
NBA teams clearly are in deal-making mode now that the calendar has turned to the New Year. The Cavaliers made two trades in three days this week, and the Celtics reportedly were involved in early discussions on a three-team deal that would have sent Green to the Grizzlies, with Memphis center Kosta Koufos heading to Cleveland and more picks coming to Boston.
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Although that deal fell through, the Celtics haven’t pulled Green off the trade block, and Memphis appears to maintain interest. The Grizzlies are targeting either Green or Luol Deng in talks, ESPN.com’s Marc Stain reported early Thursday, citing sources.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
