The team that first jumps out at me is Portland. They have young talent to spare and a need for a point guard. Blazers Edge seems to think that Jerryd Bayless has a big fan in GM Kevin Pritchard but I still think that they'd be interested in Rondo. But what would they give up?

Ideally, I'd get Rudy Fernandez, Nicolas Batum, and Jerryd Bayless but I don't see that happening. Still, I'd probably press for two of the three. (EDIT: After thinking about it, I'd want all three.) Rondo and Tony Allen for Rudy and Nic or Bayless? It's a lot to give up for the Blazers but Rondo was a borderline All-Star PG last year. The Blazers also have a number of guys playing the same position as Rudy and Nic so they could afford to move them for a starting PG. Right now, I'd focus on those three guys because Travis Outlaw is too much of a wild card, Steve Blake is too mediocre, and Sergio Rodriguez just isn't that good. Unfortunately, they are all better than what the Celtics have to offer (JR Giddens, anyone?) but the one piece that could help the Celtics out is Big Baby. He might be a decent backup for Aldridge and I'd be down for a sign-and-trade to sweeten up the pot.

Still, I wouldn't be surprised if those talks went nowhere.  So what else is there?

Sacramento: Rondo (and Giddens) for Jason Thompson and the #5? Seems very steep although Rondo is a sure thing while the PG's in this draft are all over the place. Again, a Big Baby sign-and-trade might help things and maybe the C's move their expiring deals and take Andres Nocioni's contract off of the Maloofs' hands but it's more of a longshot than the Blazers deal.

Philadelphia: Rondo and Allen for Thad Young and Marreese Speights? The C's would have to deal Ray Allen for a PG or sign one for the MLE. I'm a huge Thad fan and think Speights could be a monster if he worked with Clifford Ray for one summer but I'm not sure if dealing Rondo for two backups makes much sense.

Minnesota: Rondo for Love: I blogged about this a while back but, again, it'd be trading a starter for a backup to KG. Keeping Rajon seems like the wiser choice (although the owners would like that Love is at the start of his rookie deal)

After that, I'm not so sure. If Milwaukee can't afford to sign Ramon Sessions, how are they going to be able to pay Rondo? A Rondo/Ray deal to Golden State could work but would Rondo fit Nellie's offense? And is Monta Ellis, Brandan Wright, Kelenna Azubuike with Jamal Crawford's contract better than the status quo? I think that it would be like the Portland deal, the C's would want more young talent than the Warriors are willing to deal.

So it looks like, unless Ainge could work a deal out with Portland or Golden State, that Rondo is going to stay a Celtic. But the team desperately needs to rebuild its bench and they don't have the money to do it via free agency which means someone is going to have to be dealt.

It's looking like that someone is Ray Allen. I'll check out those possible deals tomorrow.