NBA Trade Rumors 2014 Updates: Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo Denies Report Of Being Recruited By Knicks' Carmelo Anthony

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo denied recent reports saying that he is being recruited by Carmelo Anthony to join the New York Knicks.

Rondo told The Boston Globe that the reports linking him to Anthony and the Knicks are just plain rumors, reiterating that he has not talked to the Knicks superstar.

"People talk, media talk, people make up rumors, people run with them," Rondo said. "I haven't spoken to him. He ain't contacted me. It's just rumors."

Steve Smith, Rondo's high school coach at Oak Hill Academy, fueled reports that Anthony is trying to convince Rondo to join the Knicks.

In an interview with USA Today, Smith said: "I think he should be fine. He took a long time off and he's rehabbed the right way. 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. You never know about that stuff though. I think either way, Rajon will be fine."

Anthony, who has been very vocal about his desire to recruit free agents to come to New York, vehemently denied the reports as well, saying that recruiting players who are still under contract with another team is against league policy.

"C'mon, man. In my book, that's tampering," Anthony told ESPN New York.

Rondo, who is still recovering from ACL surgery, will not be a free agent until after the 2014-15 NBA season.

However, rumors suggested that the Celtics, who are in a rebuilding mode, will eventually decide to trade the All-Star point guard instead of running the risk of losing him for nothing via free agency.

The Knicks will have cap space to sign Rondo once he becomes a free agent after next season, but their front office could also be aggressive in trying to acquire the 27-year-old point guard via trade in order to convince Anthony to stay in New York after the latter announced his plans to test free agency next summer.