When the Boston Celtics selected Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart as the sixth overall pick of the NBA Draft on Thursday night, many already started to write off Rajon Rondo’s career in Boston.
With Smart being drafted, many wondered if Rondo’s time with the Celtics would be dwindling. Would the Celtics trade him and go into a full rebuilding mode?
It turns that isn’t the case, though. The Celtics plan to keep Rondo for a “long time” and believe that he and Smart can co-exist together.
Boston Celtics team President Rich Gotham appeared on CBS Sports Radio Friday with Amy Lawrence. Gotham discussed Marcus Smart and James Young, who were taken in the 2014 NBA Draft and commented on Rajon Rondo’s future with the team:
On Rondo
“It’s a two way street. … We want him here and we’re hopeful he wants to be here for the long term, which he says he does. He’s our best player and in the NBA you win with talent. He’s a big part of what we’re doing and will continue going forward.”
There was speculation that the Celtics would finally pick a path on draft night, either trading for Kevin Love to team him with Rajon Rondo or committing to a rebuild and trading Rajon Rondo for future assets. But Gotham’s comments indicate that’s not where the Celtics are.
Rondo was coming off an ACL surgery last season, but contributed in 30 games by putting up 11.7 points and 9.7 assists per game on 40.3 percent shooting from the field.