The Rajon Rondo trade rumors just won't stop and a lot of that has to do with the Boston Celtics drafting point guard Marcus Smart in this year's draft. Smart is already blooming into an elite defender early in his rookie season according to reference.com and many around the league believe that Rondo's presence could limit his development and hinder him from reaching his true potential.

Per Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald:

One league scout also buys into the theory that Smart - once he returns from his ankle injury - won't fully develop as long as he plays behind Rondo.

"I think they've got to get rid of Rondo because they drafted a good, young point guard," the scout said. "Marcus Smart is a franchise-type point guard or can be, I think, who needs to play to be good. He's fast and he defends. And you don't say that about rookies."

What the anonymous scout said however, doesn't make sense if the Celtics have playoff aspirations this season, given that Rondo is already an established star in this league and Smart, who is still rehabbing from an injury, has yet to make a mark. But we all know that Boston is far from contending a playoff spot even in the not-so-loaded Eastern Conference. The team is clearly in the middle of a rebuilding process and Rondo is already 29 years old which means it might just be best for both Rondo and the Celtics to part ways. Rondo could contend for another title with a different team while the Celtics will receive additional young assets in return:

Rondo would certainly bring back more young assets or draft picks than any other player Boston could offer in a trade, which is critical at this rebuilding stage. A young core of Smart, Jared Sullinger and James Young would at least be a start, and the Celtics would bring in a couple more pieces in a hypothetical Rondo trade. Per Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report

More and more league officials are already commending Danny Ainge's decision to draft the tough, defensive-minded Marcus Smart especially if his development continues to reach All-Star level. That won't likely happen though, until Rondo gets traded and Smart gets the chunk of minutes in the point guard position that he needs.