Playing a game of 5-on-5 following the Celtics-Mavericks swap and wondering: Is this a good deal for Boston?
Elhassan: Yes and no. Snagging an excellent finisher in Wright was a great get, those picks add to an already impressive stash, and Jameer Nelson is one of the most respected vets in the league. But you have to wonder if the Celtics jumped the gun by dealing Rondo so early. Could they have gotten more out of a bidding war?
Ford: Yes. It's not a huge haul, but the Celtics have been shopping Rondo for two years. I think Danny Ainge overturned every single rock. I think it's safe to say this was the best he was going to get. Brandan Wright is very underrated both as a player who could help the Celtics and as an asset -- his contract is very tradable. Nelson doesn't fit their long-term plan but is another potentially valuable trading chip. Crowder was a nice throw-in. The first-round pick probably comes to them in 2016, when it's top-seven protected, which may be a good thing. Ainge is collecting assets right now, and I think he picked up a couple of decent ones for Rondo.
Forsberg: It's probably about as good as Boston was going to get in-season. Maybe getting leery about either paying Rondo max money in the summer, or losing him without compensation, the Celtics assured themselves a handful of future assets while hitting reset on the rebuild.
Holmes: The Celtics risked losing Rondo for nothing in free agency, but now they have valuable assets to further their long-term rebuilding process. That's a win for them. Sure, an All-Star would've been a nice get in return, but the market wasn't that great.
MacMahon: Frankly, I figured the Celtics would be able to get more. High-flying big man Wright went from a reclamation project when he arrived in Dallas to one of the NBA's most efficient reserves. Crowder has some potential as a gritty role player. Nelson is near the end of a solid career. If Rondo fits in Dallas, the first-round pick will be awfully late.