The Boston Celtics have traded star point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks, according to Comcast SportsNet New England's A. Sherrod Blakely.
Blakely confirms that the deal will send Rondo and Dwight Powell to Dallas for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, a conditional first-round draft pick, a second-rounder and a trade exception.
Rondo, 29 in February, has been no stranger to trade whispers, being mentioned in possible deals for years. General Manager Danny Ainge has previously said the only time he actually considered dealing his star point guard was a trade in which Chris Paul, now of the Los Angeles Clippers, would have come to Boston.
The Celtics, however, now have some motivation - Rondo is in the last year of his deal, the team has a 9-14 record in a bad Eastern Conference and rookie point guard Marcus Smart, drafted sixth overall this year, has been impressive.
In the deal, the Celtics send away the last remaining member of their 2007-08 championship team.
All nine of Rondo's seasons in the NBA have been played with the Celtics. The four-time All-Star has averaged 11 points, 8.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in his career. This season, he is averaging an impressive 8.3 points, 10.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds.
The quintessential playmaker, Rondo will join veterans Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons in a dynamic offense.
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Coming back is another former All-Star point guard in Nelson, albeit one who is nearly six years removed from his sole appearance. Nelson rurns 33 in February and has a $2.8 million player option for next season.
Wright, a center, is 28. His $5 million contract will expire at the end of this year. Crowder, 24, is a small forward. Neither has started a game for the Mavs this season.
The first-rounder the Mavs will send will reportedly come between 2016 and 2020 if it isn't valued between fourth and 14th in 2015. According to reports, a top seven pick will be protected after this year.
Because the Mavs are likely to make the playoffs this season, and unlikely to end up with a top-seven pick next year, that would make the Celtics likely to acquire a pick later in the first round in 2016.
Blakely notes that Rondo is likely to seek a max contract when he hits free agency, something Boston has become increasingly uncomfortable with signing.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, a commentator for Celtics games on CSNNE, had reported earlier Thursday that the teams had agreed to a deal.
