Brad Stevens Speaks on Rajon Rondo Recovery

Dec 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center. The Sixers defeated the Celtics 95-94 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

So far new Boston Celtics coach,  Brad Stevens, has impressed us with his offseason gestures to the former Cetics’ players  and how well he’s handled himself as the Celtics head coach thus far. However, this is the easy part. As camp inches closer and closer, the expectations from Celtics’ fans will start to build more and more.

Yesterday, Stevens gave some quotes to Tom Layman of the Boston Herald about Rajon Rondo’s recovery and players who are already starting to prepare for training camp. Stevens was very specific when talking about the players preparing, but he didn’t give too much information about Rondo’s recovery. Here’s what Stevens had to say via Tom Layman:

To me, it doesn’t sound like Rondo will be back for the season opener. There’s only about two months between now and the season. A lot can happen in between then, but for those who want Rondo to take the Derrick Rose route and sit out next season it certainly seems like that’s where we’re headed. Stevens made sure to note that there is no timetable for Rondo’s recovery and that he’s working hard to get back as soon as he can.

That conflicts from reports earlier in the year that Rondo would be back in time for training camp. That starts next month, shortening his timeline tremendously. It seems as though there’s no real expectation for him to be back by training camp. You have to think that this slow pace has been fueled by the dismantling of the Big 3 in Boston. Had Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett still been with the organization, maybe we’d see a rushed timetable.

Stevens had some other things to say about other Celtics as well. He seems pleased that there are guys in town this early before training camp and they’re already working out.

All of the Celtics’ younger players are already in town getting acclimated to each other. There’s nothing more pleasing to a coach than seeing guys develop a rapport early. Even if they are only working out and not getting any shots up, they can learn a lot about each other and make the on court communication easier for themselves.

It seems like this is going to be a positive year for the Celtics and Stevens–even if they are in the midst of a rebuild. Hopefully there are some pieces on this team now that will be able to stick around for the near and far future.