Detroit Pistons have Rajon Rondo on their wish list

As expected, more teams are lining up with interest in Rajon Rondo, who by the way is still not being shopped. Of course, that could just be code for "make me an offer I can't refuse" but actions speak louder than doublespeak so we'll have to wait and see.

Anyhoo, here's the latest scuttle on the league's Rondo wishes.

Sources: Pistons target Rondo; Pacers make Granger available - CBSSports.com

Based on that possibility, the Pistons were among the first teams to reach out to the Celtics and express interest in acquiring Rondo, the All-Star point guard who is coming off an ACL injury, league sources told CBSSports.com. Having already made lucrative pitches to free agents Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala, Pistons president Joe Dumars also has registered interest in Raptors forward Rudy Gay, one source said.

It looks like Detroit is well under the cap, so I suppose if they wanted they could frame a deal around taking back salaries and sending back picks. In fact, here's a proposed deal from a Pistons blogger (be nice).

Rajon Rondo Trade Rumors: How bad do the Pistons want Rondo? Gerald Wallace bad? - Detroit Bad Boys

Because getting Rondo would require the Pistons to take back multiple bad contracts from the Celtics starting with the recently acquired deal of Gerald Wallace. Other possibilities include Courtney Lee an Brandon Bass. If Detroit sent the expiring deals of Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva along with Brandon Knight in exchange for Rondo, Wallace and Lee, who says no? You haven't given Boston much additional talent other than the hopes that Knight might turn into something useful. On the other hand, you have relieved the Celtics of $62 million in future salary obligations and have them poised to have ample cap space going forward.

I say no very quickly and emphatically. With all due respect, there's no way I'm sending out Rondo in a pure salary dump. Even throwing in multiple future picks wouldn't move me.

That isn't to say I'd never deal Rondo. But they'd have to start with Greg Monroe and work up from there. It might even make sense for them if they can find a way to sign Rondo's buddy Josh Smith as a free agent. If Monroe was a non-starter, I might be convinced to talk Drummond and a 2014 first rounder. (Quick note: it is very possible that I'm over-valuing our guy and undervaluing theirs, just like I believe the Detroit blogger is. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong.) Upon further reflection, it sounds like Drummond might be as much of a prospect (if not more) than Monroe. Either way, the Pistons aren't going to be eager to give them up and the Celtics likely won't be interested without them.

If the GMs are as far apart as the Pistons blogger and I are, then there's probably no deal to be had here. Which is pretty much the assumption that I had going in.