NBA Trade Rumors 2014 Update: Carmelo Anthony Telling Rajon Rondo to Leave Celtics for New York Knicks, Reports Say

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo could be playing for the New York Knicks before the season ends following reports that Carmelo Anthony has been recruiting his fellow All-Star to leave Bean Town and join forces with him in the Big Apple, a source close to situation reported on Saturday.

Rondo, who is still training hard to recover after sustaining a torn ACL injury last season, has been the subject of trade rumors ever since Celtics general manager Danny Ainge traded away cornerstones Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets for a few NBA journeymen and draft picks.

Even before the start of the 2013-14 season, there were reports of the Knicks' attempt to send a trade package to the Celtics in exchange for the crafty floor general.

Anthony, the Knicks' franchise player, has repeatedly expressed his desire to team up with an elite-level distributor like Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, to solve their woes at the point guard position. At 5-14, the Knicks found themselves at the cellar of the Eastern Conference, a year after lording on top of the Atlantic Division.

Rondo Has Suitor in Melo

In an interview with USA Today, Rondo's high-school coach Steve Smith said Anthony has been trying hard to recruit the All-Star point guard as of late. In fact, Anthony has been calling Rondo regularly, convincing him to abandon the rebuilding Celtics for the fame and prestige of New York basketball.

"Whether he stays in Boston or not who knows. I know, talking to Melo (Carmelo Anthony), he's recruiting Rajon to come to New York. Melo thinks he'll come too," Smith said. "You never know about that stuff though. I think either way, Rajon will be fine," Smith told USA Today.

Rondo quickly downplayed the rumors, saying he didn't remember Anthony calling or recruiting him at all.

"Well, (Smith) must know something that I don't know," Rondo told the Boston Herald as response to his high-school coach's earlier interview with USA Today.

Nearing Return?

Rondo has reportedly been doing well in his rehabilitation from ACL surgery. In fact, the Celtics point guard has already performed several advanced drills - including full-contact scrimmages - these past few weeks.

"He's playing one-on-one and two-on-two, that type of thing, but he hasn't been cleared to do much more than that," Ainge told the Inquisitr.

Rondo is scheduled to meet Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery, to re-evaluate his current status.

"It has nothing to do with Rondo's health and it's not like a final straw or anything," Ainge said on Wednesday. "It's just a checkup that they've scheduled for the beginning of December. It's been on the calendar for a while."