Celtics news & rumors: Aaron Nesmith a ‘steal’, Rajon Rondo an option

As time and patience has proved with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics just have to give top draft pick Aaron Nesmith time to grow and get accustomed the game at a professional level.

While it has been the Celtics’ late-first round pick who has been creating all the buzz, former NBA star Jerry Stackhouse, who was Smith’s head coach at Vanderbilt, believe the Celtics have themselves a player…as long as they are patient.

Unlike Payton Pritchard, Smith hasn’t had the minutes to boost his confidence, but that playing time is coming, especially if he continues to perform like he did against the Atlanta Hawks back on Feb 24 when he scored a career high 13 points and showed some skill on the defensive end.

But, like any rookie, as promising as that performance was, Nesmith just played 7 minutes in the next game against the Indiana Pacers.

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Boston Celtics will have a player in Aaron Nesmith

Aaron Nesmith is not the talent coming out of college like Tatum and Brown were, but he has the talent to really help the Celtics off the bench on a consistent basis once he really understands the game and his role.

Comparing him to a “sponge,” Stackhouse told NBC Sport Boston’s Chris Forsberg that Nesmith is a player who will push himself to grow and will grow with time.

"“He’s probably put a ton of pressure on himself being a lottery pick and not playing a ton early, so he wants to try to prove to everybody in Boston that they made the right decision,” Stackhouse said, via Yahoo! Sports.  “So you guys got that working for you as a Boston fan that this kid is going to continue to try to prove everybody that he belongs where he is, and I think that’s going to allow him to flourish and become who he needs to be for them.”"

Stackhouse went on to say the Celtics got a “steal” when Nesmith does figure things out.  Drafted for his hot shooting ability, it would be awesome if he started to get going in the second half of the season and pivot himself as a key contributor of the bench.

NBA trade rumors: A Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics reunion?

Somehow, someway, you just know Rajon Rondo will finish his career with the Boston Celtics.

Since being traded from the Celtics, Rondo has basically been a journey man who still has the ability to make players around him better whenever he is on the court.

Just imagine Rondo dishing the rock to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker?

Former Celtics big man and current NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins sees Rondo as the perfect solution:

Not only would Rondo take up just a small part of the $28.5 million trade exception, but he is a veteran asset who has played under Brad Stevens and knows how to captain the court.

This season with the Atlanta Hawks, the savvy veteran point guard is just averaging 3.8 points and 36. Assists in 15.3 minutes played.

Those assists numbers would balloon if he was on the court with Tatum and Brown.  With his championship experience with both the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers last season, a Rajon Rondo reunion in Boston could be the remedy the team needs to turn things around and contend in the East.