The Houston Rockets are reportedly making a final push to acquire Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics before the 3 p.m. trade deadline Thursday.
ESPN reported that the Rockets have been told that the Celtics have no plans to trade Rondo this season, but sources indicated that Houston is making a last ditch effort to convince Boston to trade their All-Star point guard.
The Rockets have been pursuing Rondo over the past several weeks in hopes of forming a superstar trio with All-Stars James Harden and Dwight Howard, but they were unsuccessful after numerous attempts.
According to Stein, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and Celtics basketball operations head Danny Ainge have developed a close relationship during their time together in Boston, and reports indicated that this could be a factor in Houston's pursuit of Rondo.
However, reports suggested that it would not be enough to strike a blockbuster deal before the trade deadline passes with sources saying that the Celtics are looking for high returns in any deal involving Rondo.
"Sources familiar w/Rockets' thinking say HOU has absolute interest in trading for Rajon Rondo. But that alone doesn't mean we'll see a deal," Stein tweeted. "Close relationship between Danny Ainge and Daryl Morey means talks are always easy to fire up but Celts' demands for Rondo are very high."
The Celtics are reportedly shopping Rondo, but will only trade him for an irresistible package such as a deal that would give them young assets and at least two unprotected first round picks.
Boston believes that Rondo's value is more than two high draft picks, considering the fact that they were able to secure multiple draft picks when they traded veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets last offseason. The Celtics were also able to secure a first-rounder for allowing Doc Rivers to take the Los Angeles Clippers coaching job.
"Celtics got a first for Doc Rivers and multiple firsts for Pierce/KG, as covered today on Stein Line Live. For Rondo they'll want even more," Stein stressed.
The Rockets are intensifying their efforts, but no deal is imminent because the Celtics are reported uninterested in Houston's tradable assets such as Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin.
Rumors circulated suggesting that the Celtics might consider trading Rondo to Houston if Chandler Parsons will be involved in the deal, but the Rockets are not willing to give up the vastly-improving forward.
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