When Doc Rivers spouts high praise (“Rajon [Rondo] is the smartest point guard I’ve ever been around”), you know for sure the player can be had. As expected, Danny Strange denies interest in trading any of the AARP 3.
Trust me; Ainge is accepting bids for Paul Pierce (unable to produce on a regular basis), Ray Allen (without picks, no points) and Kevin Garnett, whose second odometer was just rolled back.
MAVERICKS: Have lost eight of 10, including three straight. Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Lamar Odom have been given the last rites. Who would have thought Brendan Haywood, Brendan Wright and Delonte West would qualify as first responders for a defending champion? Where is Shawn Bradley when you need him? Uwe Blab? Bill Wennington? Roy Tarpley?
HORNETS: Emeka Okafor ($28 million remaining over next two seasons) and Chris Kaman ($12.7 million expires July 1) are available for a stale six pack. Nobody on the roster is vaguely untouchable, including restricted free agent Eric Gordon. Mike Dunleavy’s group remains poised to purchase the team, something that probably will happen next week.
HEAT: Might be closer to greatness than any other team but remain flawed as long as there’s no one better patrolling the tar pits than Joel Anthony.
THUNDER: Trying to upgrade support behind Russell Westbrook. Veteran Royal Ivey and rookie Reggie Jackson are unsatisfactory replacement for injured Eric Maynor.
TIMBERWOLVES: Ricky Rubio’s season-ending torn ACL has management scurrying to open up a roster slot in order to add a starting playmaker or shooting guard. J.J. Barea is not the answer in either case.
NUGGETS: Re-signing Wilson Chandler is their priority.
CAVALIERS: Contrary to reports, Antawn Jamison’s expiring $15.07 million contract is being tastelessly shopped. Ramon Sessions ($4.55M) and Daniel Gibson ($4.79M) have guaranteed salaries management would love to dump. Right now, only the Suns have more ($300,000) cap space than Cleveland.
CLIPPERS: Caron Butler ($16M left over two years) already is in full fade. They’re on a critical prowl for a long-range slingshot artist.
BLAZERS: If Nate McMillan doesn’t go, then players must. Excising Gerald Wallace’s two remaining years ($9.5M per) is an exercise in futility. Same goes for Wes Matthews ($20.5M over three). Rising free agents Jamal Crawford ($5M) and Raymond Felton ($7.65M) are infinitely easier to deal.
RAPTORS: Free-agent-to-be Leandro Barbosa and Jose Calderon are attracting a lot of phone calls, but probably go nowhere.
BOBCATS: Michael Jordan has announced that plenty of good seats and bad players remain available. Despite being benched and belittled by coach Paul Silas, Boris Diaw’s expiring contract ($9M) and versatility might charm a title contender to take a flyer on him. They’re stuck with Tyrus Thomas’ remaining $26M 3-year burden.
JAZZ: When VP Kevin O’Connor is unable to pawn off Devin Harris’ oone-year debt ($8.5M), it’ll free up Ty Corbin to start the most competent (by far) playmaker — Jamaal Tinsley. If that doesn’t happen, the coach owes it to Jerry Sloan to pursue another profession.
SUNS: Robin Lopez has been on the block since preseason and is expected to have a new (Milwaukee, Oakland or ?) address. Josh Childress (21M for next three) and Hakim Warrick (8.5M over next two) will sit out their contracts in Phoenix..
PACERS: Currently own more maneuverability ($14.2M under the cap) than any team in the league ($21.7M come summer) so they might act as a conduit in 3-way trades in order to add draft picks. This is strictly a hunch, but it wouldn’t me if Danny Granger ($39M over the next three years) was moved.
PISTONS: Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko are safe. Everyone else, including Tayshaun Prince ($20M for next three), is eminently accessible.
HAWKS: No, they’re not trading Josh Smith for Kevin Garnett or Jamison or anyone else. No, they’re not trading Joe Johnson or Marvin Williams. Kirk Hinrich might have been pried loose before he got healthy. Not so now.
SPURS: As assembled, they’re a dangerous team. Definitely capable of beating the Thunder in the playoffs, but could really use another big man.
BULLS: Tom Thibodeau is supposed to win the Eastern Conference in spite of Luol Deng’s and Rip Hamilton’s injury issues. Derrick Rose is better than Kenny Powers.
WIZARDS: Who’s better off, Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton, Flip Saunders or Ernie Grunfeld?
KINGS: It’s immaterial whether team president Geoff Petrie is able to find a team willing to take Francisco Garcia ($12.5M, two-year liability) or J.J. Hickson’s expiring ($2.35M) contract. What’s fascinating is whether Tyreke Evans will be kept now or come summer, or will management want to separate his pointless guard from DeMarcus Cousins.
76ERS: How much can they be expected to overachieve in the playoffs with or without starting center Spencer Hawes?
GRIZZLIES: Someone would be real smart to steal seriated Sam Young while he’s extraneous in the eyes of coach Lionel Hollins. Zach Randolph is about to return, meaning the offensive pace decelerates and the points of emphasis are no longer Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol. Then again, maybe not. Carmelo Anthony doesn’t see any possibly chemistry problems.
KNICKS: As every March opponent has done, we’re just gonna step over James Dolan’s frozen assets.
peter.vecsey@nypost.com