3 buyout candidates the Boston Celtics should consider

Rajon Rondo

Consider Rajon Rondo a conditional option, with the condition being that he is moved off of the Los Angeles Lakers roster by unofficial general manager LeBron James. Rumors have swirled that the point guard–who has had success without the “king” in the lineup recently–could have his salary included in a deal for a better playmaker.

"“The Lakers need another playmaking guard. Rondo’s not what he used to be. The ball sticks with him, and he doesn’t defend anymore.”"

The anonymous Eastern Conference executive didn’t end there:

"“They need another point guard to help LeBron. If they’re going to make a trade, that’s what they need to target.”"

Rondo’s salary could be aggregated with the likes of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Danny Green in a deal. If, say the Lakers acquire someone like Derrick Rose, which Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus noted in his piece regarding Los Angeles’ playmaker problem, Rondo would end up in a rebuilding situation that has no use for his talents, likely leading to a buyout.

Rondo still has value, as his recent performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder showed us. Not just any NBA player is capable of dropping 21 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. His value next to the ball-dominant James stifles what he does, though, and the “king”-less matchup against the Thunder proved as much.

If Rondo is traded to a losing team, he won’t stick around. His free agent decisions in recent years, outside of his 2015-16 season joining the hapless Kings, reveals that the point guard still wants to win.

Why not return to the team he won it all with? Especially one that can use his NBA wisdom, and more importantly, a backup point guard.

A Boston Celtics reunion makes too much sense if he winds up a free agent before season’s end.