NBA League sources have confirmed that the Boston Celtics are willing to consider trades involving either Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo, 2 of the key stars who helped bring an NBA championship back to Boston in 2008.  Allen has an expiring $20 million contract at the end of the 2009-2010 NBA season, and the Celtics seem reluctant to give Rondo the lucrative, long-term deal that he seeks.  While the 34-year Allen is in the twilight of his career, the 24-year old Rondo has emerged as a big-game player, averaging 11.9 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds during the regualr season.  Rondo also had 3 triple-doubles in the playoffs this past season.

While Celtics GM Danny Ainge and Pistons GM Joe Dumars never actually spoke about this proposed trade, NBA league sources have reported that low-level executives from the Celtics and Pistons discussed a trade that would have sent Allen and Rondo to the Celtics for Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey.  The trade makes little sense for the Pistons (unloading 3 of their 4 best players for 1 old guy and 1 young guy), and reports have it that the Pistons exec immediately rejected the deal.

It should be interesting to see if the Celtics make a move this off-season.  Without Kevin Garnett much of the season, the Celtics weaknesses were exposed as the Chicago Bulls took them to the brink of elimination with a grueling 7-game series in the 1st round of the playoffs.  It seems clear that Ainge is trying to make some productive moves now to better his ball club before it’s too late.