Rajon Rondo is the prime commodity in NBA Trade Rumors, and this deal almost happened. Young talent and draft picks is the theoretical value that Danny Ainge places on his All-Star guard. What went wrong?

Isaiah Thomas is fast becoming a starting caliber point guard (although it's a team bereft of choices). On a good team, he could be the energy guy off the bench. Ben McLemore is actually a future star. The details of the pick were not disclosed but it is assumed to be a first rounder.

Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports reported:

"Source said Kings and C's discussed a deal involving Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore and a pick for Rajon Rondo, but Rondo wasn't interested in re-signing with Sacramento and the Kings strongly value McLemore."

It is probably a good decision for Sacramento. Ben McLemore is definitely worth more than just a trade sweetener, and if it is an unprotected first round pick, the Kings would have overpaid. Rondo is great, but he is not worth a "king's ransom."

What this report implies is that the statements made by Danny Ainge about Rondo being the building block of the Celtics was all just for show. Most sportswriters have already observed that. The best example is the Brooklyn Nets trade that saw him unload Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Danny Ainge talked to the Boston Globe on his deadline plans: "The public probably views us more as sellers than as buyers. But I do think that people around the league know that we have some good players - good veteran players, good young players - and lots of draft picks. I've had calls for both.

Again, I think that we'll be opportunistic. We're just waiting for an opportunity to do something good. And I think it's important, again - you can't force these opportunities. You can't just be so hungry for a deal that you try to do a deal. You've got to be patient. At the same time, you've got to be aggressive."