The Lakers have contacted the Boston Celtics on a possible swap of Dwight Howard for Rajon Rondo, according to sources. The potential deal has not gained any traction, and other significant pieces would need to be involved.
Rondo recently tore his ACL and is on his way to recovery
The Lakers have adamantly stated publicly and privately that they will not deal Howard before the Feb. 21 trade deadline.
Danny Ainge will not pull the trigger on a trade sending Rondo for Howard unless the Celtics receive assurance that Howard would re-sign with Boston in the offseason, according to a league source.
Howard has been promised he will not be traded before the deadline
Mitch Kupchak strongly denied the trade report in comments to ESPN's Chris Broussard.
"I haven't talked to Danny Ainge in weeks," Kupchak said. "I made the statement a week or 2 ago that we're not going to trade Dwight Howard and that hasn't changed."
Kupchak also said that he hasn't spoken with anyone else within the Celtics' organization.
The trade wouldn't make much sense for the Lakers as they already have Steve Nash as their main point guard signed for the next two seasons and Rajon Rondo recently tore his ACL and is far from being able to play.
For the Celtics on the other hand, this trade would make much sense only if they would be able to re-sign Howard next summer as he is becoming a free agent after this season.
