Danny Ainge is actively trying to trade Rajon Rondo. No matter what Ainge said during his joint press conference with Doc Rivers, no matter how many times he carefully tried to avoid saying he was openly shopping Rondo, no matter what a Hornets source told Gary Washburn about Ainge not shopping Rondo, it’s becoming evident that the truth is otherwise.

Ainge is not actively trying to trade Rondo for just anyone. He is trying only to trade Rondo for Chris Paul, widely believed to be the NBA’s best point guard, or for Stephen Curry, who would then be swapped for Paul. The proposed end result of Ainge’s madness always ends with Paul in green and white, teaming with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for at least one season of what-if, then re-signing (or not re-signing) with the Celtics when his free agency arrives at year’s end.

Ainge is willing to acquire Paul without any promise the All-Star will remain in Boston beyond 2011-12. Whether Ainge believes that strongly in his own persuasive powers — that he will be able to convince Paul (and maybe someone else, possibly named Dwight Howard) to become Boston’s future — or he simply believes Paul is the key to maximizing the Big Three’s NBA title chances in the coming season, Ainge would reportedly roll the dice without any assurances. Ainge is willing to trade Rondo, whose ridiculously-below-market-level contract expires after the 2013-14 season, for one season of Paul, one season to try to convince Paul to make Boston his permanent home. In other words, Ainge is willing to trade Boston’s lone building block for the future in exchange for what might amount to a one-year rental, but has the (however slight or strong) possibility to leave Boston with the world’s best point guard for the foreseeable future.

What we know for sure, or what we believe we know for sure based on what the world’s top NBA reporters can agree on, is surrounded by a layer of questions, all equally as perplexing as the next. Allow me to take a stab at answering some of them.

Why is Ainge pursuing Paul so aggressively?

I’ve thought about this question a lot and narrowed it down to two primary reasons: 1) Paul’s a better player, and 2) Ainge would make out with his mother if he felt it would improve the Boston Celtics. Ainge has come to the conclusion, right or wrong, that Paul’s talents outweigh Rondo’s and are worth risking the possibility of entering the 2012-13 season with only Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley under contract.

Would trading for Paul, then losing him to free agency, kill Boston’s immediate future?

Yes or no. But probably yes. If the Celtics enter the summer of 2012 with just Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley under contract, there’s no attraction for Dwight Howard. Nor would there be one for Deron Williams (unless the pair miraculously decided to join Boston together, despite the fact that no superstar free agent has ever signed in Boston). The second-tier unrestricted free agents in 2012 are Andrew Bynum (whose knees are made of Jermaine O’Neal), Tim Duncan (who will be approximately 84 years old), Steve Nash (who will be even older), Jason Kidd (who could be Duncan’s grandfather), Gerald Wallace and Jason Terry. All are decent players. None would make the Celtics’ future seem much less bleak.

Assuming that neither Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen retire after this season, the two would be free agents who the Celtics could presumably sign and give the Big Three yet another chance. But if you think the Big Three could contend as a nucleus in 2012-13, without Rajon Rondo, you probably need to wash the rust that’s accumulating on your brain. Basically, if the Celtics trade for Paul, it’s re-sign or bust.

Why is Boston’s offer for Paul considered second-rate?

I still don’t understand this. The Hornets reportedly value Stephen Curry more than Rondo. A package of Curry, Klay Thompson and Ekpe Udoh reportedly holds more value than a package of Rondo, Jeff Green and two first-round picks. Huh?

Rondo’s resume: two All-Star appearances, two-time All-Defensive First Team selection, one championship, the best playoff performer (by far) for a team that went to Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Boston’s best playoff performer for the past three seasons (marred only by his elbow injury this season), second in the NBA in assists last season (just 0.2 behind Nash), occasionally inconsistent production, tough hombre who normally rises to the occasion of big games

Curry’s resume: zero All-Star appearances, zero playoff appearances, a terrific shooter, average playmaker, candidate for Tim Kawakami’s annual All-NBA No-Defense Team (Kawakami, a Warriors beat reporter, should know as well as anyone) and someone whose presence actually made the miserable Golden State Warriors defense worse, albeit very slightly

Keep in mind, Rondo’s just two years older than Curry and already has NBA Finals experience. I realize Curry’s a better shooter and scorer. Far better, even. But considering how much more Rondo has accomplished in his career, understanding Rondo improves by miles every season and realizing that the Celtics’ reported deal is even sweetened by multiple draft picks, how is Golden St.’s package better than Boston’s? I’m confused. It just doesn’t make sense. Of course, for all I know, the rumors might have been leaked by a New Orleans front office executive looking to extract more talent from Danny Ainge’s pocket. Who knows?

I could do the same comparison using the Hornets’ reported infatuation with Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan. Am I crazy, or is Boston’s reported offer simply better than either of those teams’?

Why might any potential Chris Paul trade be controversial?

The NBA currently owns the Hornets. If Paul ends up in Boston or any other big market, conspiracy theorists will soon be shouting through megaphones, picketing with signs and throwing bricks through windows.

How will Rondo react to all the rumors?

Let’s pretend the Celtics don’t trade Rondo. At this point, it seems like the likely outcome. Ainge will try to explain the rumors by telling Rondo something to the effect of, “But at least we tried trading you for Chris Paul and only Chris Paul, not anyone lesser.”

But here’s the thing: Rondo considers himself the league’s best point guard and has for years. Trying to trade him for a player Ainge considers better isn’t just likely to hurt Rondo’s feelings. It also attacks Rondo’s supreme self-confidence, one of the pillars on which Rondo has built his career. That confidence won’t go away anytime soon. But his trust and appreciation for Ainge (and perhaps Doc Rivers) sure might. Rondo can be an emotionally fickle guy. These rumors, even if that’s all they amount to, won’t help.

The difference between the current Rondo trade rumors and the 2009 Rondo trade rumors is this: Then, the Celtics were shopping Rondo because he misbehaved too often. Now, they’re shopping him because they think they can acquire a better player. Should Paul be traded elsewhere, the effect of these trade rumors on Rondo might be far greater (and worse) than they were two years ago.

It’s reasonably safe to say the New Orleans Hornets will trade Chris Paul before this season. And by “reasonably safe,” I mean it’s okay to bet your car, house, first-born child, Dawson’s Creek limited edition DVDs,  14-year old Tamagotchi egg, Pogs collection and Jerome Moiso autograph.

Adrian Wojnarowski reports a number of teams believe the Hornets will make a deal by Friday, when training camp begins.

Three teams in pursuit of Paul believe the Hornets will push for final offers – and make a decision – by the start of training camp on Friday, front-office sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Clippers’ and Warriors’ packages are the most intriguing to New Orleans general manager Dell Demps, league sources said.

In two days, the Celtics could very well know which All-Star point guard they’ll begin the season with. Either way, they’ll enter a Christmas Day showdown against the New York Knicks in good hands.

The Boston Celtics are reportedly “uber-aggressive” in their pursuit of Chris Paul, but the Hornets are thought to be “lukewarm” on Boston’s offer, said to include some combination of Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green and/or two draft picks, plus-or-minus one of Boston’s two rookies. The Hornets, though, are reportedly interested in acquiring Glen Davis, and could be intrigued by a package highlighted by Davis and Rondo.

That opening paragraph is a maze. Just read on. (Boston Herald)

Glen Davis could end up playing a part in all this, no matter which way New Orleans goes. The C’s unrestricted free agent has received interest from the Hornets during the past couple of days as they try to put the right pieces around Paul that might make him want to stay (no doubt it will take more than the forward to sway Paul).

But if New Orleans decides there is no way it will be able to retain Paul, then Davis, a Louisiana native, could be a welcome component in a Celtics package that surely will be headlined by Rajon Rondo. And, according to a source, said package would have to contain more than those two players.

I don’t know what to think anymore. The Hornets want Stephen Curry more than Rajon Rondo. The Lakers are trying to acquire two of the NBA’s top six players without parting ways with Kobe Bryant. A trade package of Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan would reportedly be one of New Orleans’ top choices, and a package of Curry and Klay Thompson is another top choice, but a package including Rondo, Jeff Green and two first-round picks elicits a lukewarm response.

NBA rumor season: It’s nuttier than your craziest uncle, and twice as unpredictable.

The Boston Celtics are still hot in pursuit of Chris Paul, according to a number of reports tonight from some of the world’s best (and most accurate) NBA reporters. The trade package being offered by Danny Ainge differs from report to report, but we should take the following takeaways from the latest news:

1. The Celtics want Paul very badly.
2. They are willing to surrender a whole lot in order to get Paul: One report says the package includes Rondo, Green and two first-round drafts picks. Another reports says the package includes Rondo, Bradley, one first-round draft pick, possibly Green and Marshon Brooks, a first-round draft pick the Celtics traded away on draft night for JaJuan Johnson and no longer hold the rights to. Huh? (Note: Sam Amick has since updated the story, and the package would include E’Twaun Moore, not Brooks.)
3. The C’s seem undeniably willing to trade for Paul even without a contract extension.
4. The Hornets would rather have Stephen Curry than Rajon Rondo??

More on these talks tomorrow. Right now, it’s late, I’m tired, and I need time to digest the latest, crazy batch of reports.

The Boston Celtics are not one of the four teams ESPN reports are most interested in adding Chris Paul. But the Celtics are nonetheless reportedly willing to trade for Paul even if he does not sign a contract extension. (ESPN)

The Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks have shown the most interest in trading for Paul, according to sources briefed on the talks.

There is also a small handful of teams that has informed the Hornets they are prepared to trade for Paul with no assurance that they can keep him beyond this season. That list, sources say, includes the Rockets, Boston Celtics and defending champion Dallas Mavericks.

Each of those teams would be gambling that Paul would be won over by his new surroundings and either elect to play out the final season of his current contract (valued at $17.8 million in 2012-13) or opt out of his contract on July 1, 2012, and sign a new deal. Paul’s 2011-12 salary is listed at $16.4 million.

Boston would appear to have the most to offer in such a scenario if the Celtics are willing to include point guard Rajon Rondo, but sources say that the Hornets are convinced that they can receive more from any of the so-called gambling teams than from the Knicks, who are widely regarded as Paul’s No. 1 preferred destination.

I might think differently tomorrow, and I might flip-flop again the next day, but right now I wouldn’t do it. Rajon Rondo’s a top-five point guard. He’s one of the league’s smartest players. He improves by miles every season. He changes games defensively and he’s tougher than the rottweiler that ran straight through my fence last year. He’s not quite as good as Chris Paul, but he comes cheaper and he’s close enough to Paul’s level that trading for Paul as a possible one-year rental simply doesn’t make sense…

But if the Celtics somehow acquire Paul tomorrow, they’d have a full season to convince Paul to sign and a number of assets remaining to throw at Orlando (Dwight Howard, people!). I’m not saying Ainge should pull the trigger — I wouldn’t pull the trigger myself — but it’s a risk that could yield unfathomably high returns (Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, people!). Then again, it’s a risk that could allow Paul to walk and the Celtics’ cupboard to be bare after the 2011-12 season. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Trade rumors have swirled around Rajon Rondo from time to time for years, but never has the commotion been as loud as it is now, with Danny Ainge rumored to be dogged in his pursuit of Chris Paul.

Since he rarely shows emotions outwardly, it’s difficult to visualize Rondo upset*. But his agent Bill Duffy said the rumors have hit Rondo hard. Duffy also said the Celtics assured him that Rondo is “their guy.” (Boston Herald)

“I’m told that he’s their guy,” Duffy told the Herald. “There’s been repeated interest in him, as there is in other players. But they have high expectations for Rajon now and moving forward.”

Still, the talk that the Celtics are looking to deal Rondo has caused more than a few waves.

“It’s just disturbing,” said Duffy. “It’s disturbing for everybody. It’s disturbing for me. It’s disturbing for him, because it makes one think, ‘Where do I stand in this relationship?’ Particularly because he’s a darn good player, and this is a very successful franchise, and he’s one of the key players on the franchise.”

The chances of Rondo being dealt are unlikely. But I’m convinced Danny Ainge would trade his mother if he thought it would help the Celtics win games.

*unless you remember the second half of last season