NBA Trade Rumors 2014: New York Knicks Still Have Strong Interest in Trading for Rajon Rondo Before Deadline

The Boston Celtics have made it no secret that they are not planning to trade Rajon Rondo anytime soon, but several teams are still hoping that the Celtics will make a sudden u-turn and decide to move the superstar point guard—chief among them the New York Knicks.

Since returning from a one-year layoff due to an ACL injury in his right knee, Rondo has been linked to several teams like the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. But Basketball Insiders reported that the New York Knicks are still the most aggressive suitors for the All-Star point guard.

Sources said that the Knicks have the "strongest interest" in acquiring Rondo before the deadline in hopes of bolstering their injury-riddled point guard rotation of Raymond Felton, Beno Udrih, and Pablo Prigioni.

"The New York Knicks have been the team with the strongest interest in potentially acquiring Rondo from the Celtics as the deadline nears. The Knicks' interest should come as no surprise as the team has endured their own struggles at point guard with the trio of Raymond Felton, Beno Udrih and Pablo Prigioni underachieving," Basketball Insiders reported.

Getting Rondo from the Celtics is also viewed as one of the Knicks' ways of convincing Carmelo Anthony that they are serious in building an NBA title-contending team.

The superstar forward will become a free agent after the current season, and there is already a growing concern among Knicks fans that he will leave next summer unless the team acquires another superstar like Rondo.

However, acquiring Rondo appears to be a long shot for the Knicks at this point because the Celtics are reportedly not interested in New York's current assets.

The Celtics also look like they're serious about keeping Rondo in Boston and building the team around him in the next few years, as indicated by previous reports.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge recently revealed they offered a contract extension to Rondo. The 27-year-old point guard turned down the offer, but talks are expected to resume after the season.

The former Kentucky standout also recently talked about his future in Boston, saying that he is open to spending his entire career with the Celtics if given the opportunity.

Also Read: Rondo Could Spend Entire Career In Boston

"I like to stick to the script," Rondo said. "I don't like change much. I wouldn't mind staying here the rest of my career. Things don't always seem to go that way, but like I said before, it's just a business. I wouldn't mind extending another 10 years in Boston."