Vote: Should Celtics Trade Rajon Rondo or Build Around Him?

The Celtics will play with Rajon Rondo on Wednesday for the second straight game as the point guard continues to serve his two-game suspension for throwing a ball at a referee.

The act was seen as juvenile by everybody — well, almost everybody — and prompted the question: Does Rondo possess the maturity necessary to become a leader on this team?

Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett‘s contracts are up at the end of this season and Paul Pierce has begun to slow down. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge could trade any of them at any time. Once their leadership has been muted, the Celtics become Rondo’s team unconditionally.

It doesn’t have to be that way, of course. Ainge could instead pick up where he left off during the offseason and shop Rondo. Despite his alleged attitude problem, Rondo would be attractive to a number of teams in need of an All-Star point guard who has ranked in the top five in steals each of the last three seasons.

Then there is the question of what the Celtics would seek in return. Should they look for proven pieces to try for one last title run with Garnett, Allen and Pierce together? Should they stock up on younger talent to rebuild for contention three or four years down the road, when Pierce is either gone or hobbling on his last legs?

Rondo, through his actions, has presented the Celtics with no easy options.

What should the Celtics do with Rajon Rondo?