Two of the most well-known players in the NBA might be traded – for each other.
The Lakers and Celtics have had preliminary talks about putting together a blockbuster trade, according to CBSSports.com. The megadeal would send Dwight Howard to Boston and have Rajon Rondo heading out to LA.
Rondo is out for the season with a torn ACL, so if the Lakers acquire him they’d be effectively conceding this as a lost year. Howard also is making $8.5 million more than Rondo this season and the salaries would have to balance out in a potential trade.
No one would probably be happier if this went down than Kobe Bryant, who has ripped Howard for not coming back quick enough from an injured shoulder. Plus, Rondo is “one of his favorites,” he told ESPNBoston.com earlier this month
“You don’t want Rondo? Send him my way,” Kobe said. “I love everything about him. Everything. I love his attitude, I love his chippiness, his edge, his intellect, his know-it-allness. All of it. That’s what makes championship players.
“What guard have you seen at his size that will get you 18 assists, 17 boards and 20 points all in one game? That’s unheard of. I love that kid. I always make a point of talking to him during All-Star [Weekend]. He’s one of my favorites.”
Bryant might get his wish, which is not unusual. But odds are this deal is not close and very much a long shot.
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak denied the report Saturday.
“I haven’t talked to Danny Ainge in weeks,” Kupchak told ESPN. “I made the statement a week or two ago that we’re not going to trade Dwight Howard and that hasn’t changed.”