During his press conference yesterday, Danny Ainge told Rajon Rondo fans exactly what they wanted to hear. Or did he?

Rondo became a national story during the playoffs as he averaged 19.4 points, 11.6 assists, 9.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game during Boston's seven-game first-round series against Chicago. Basically, a star was born. Rondo's numbers dipped in the second round against Orlando and the Celtics are no longer NBA champions, but the 23-year-old Rondo is still a national story. Not as a star, but as trade bait.

The latest trade rumor had Boston offering Rondo and Ray Allen to Detroit for Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince. That brings the "Boston is offering Rondo" rumor total to three in the last month. The first was Rondo and others to Phoneix for

Amar'e Stoudemire and others, and the second was Rondo to Sacramento for the No. 4 pick and an established player.

Wearing a green shirt and speaking from the Celtics practice facility in Waltham, Mass., Ainge denied all those rumors yesterday.

"The notion that we might be trading him because of some reason, other than we think that we could be better ... his contract situation, I've heard speculation. I've heard speculation of, 'We're dissatisfied with him and his attitude.' That stuff is so false," Ainge said. " 'He showed up late for a playoff game, so we're going to trade him.' None of those things are true. We love the kid. And we think he's got a very bright future."

That sounds like Rondo will be a Celtic for a long time - until you realize who is saying it and when.

This could be the dreaded and classic vote of confidence that comes right before someone is traded or fired. Or Ainge might be throwing up a smoke screen to hide his desire to trade Rondo, which, if known, would take away some of Ainge's leverage. Since this is draft week, misinformation is rampant and par for the course. And Ainge is an established dealer who knows how to pull strings and work angles, so you simply can not take his words at face value.

Or maybe Ainge is telling us the truth. He traded for Rondo during the 2006 draft. He handed Rondo the keys to the New Big Three car in 2008. He has repeated his love for Rondo over and over again on the record.

But he is Trader Danny and this is Draft Week, so anything is possible. Maybe Ainge doesn't feel like Boston will be able to afford Rondo when his contract expires after next season, or, if the Celtics enact their team option for another year, after the 2010-2011 season. Maybe Ainge loves a point guard in this draft more than he loves Rondo, and there are tons of points available - Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Jrue Holiday, Eric Maynor and Darren Collison are all point guards who could go in the first round.

Trading Rondo, however, would be a mistake.

The Chicago series was no fluke. Rondo has the kind of freakish athletic ability to dominate a game from all over the court even though he is not a consistent outside shooter and is a slight 6-foot-1, 171 pounds. He is as fast, quick and creative as anyone in the league. He is tough and willing to throw those 171 pounds around - just ask Brad Miller's mouth.

And Rondo is a true point guard with major talent, which is a rare commodity. There's Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups and Steve Nash. Then you have guys like Andre Miller and Jose Calderon who are true points, but not extremely talented by NBA standards. And guys like Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas who drip talent and play the point, but are really more like shooting guards.

When you have a rare commodity, you don't trade him. You sign him to an extension, call him your foundation and let the free agents who long to play with a true point flock to you.

Maybe there is some truth to Rondo's "attitude," as Ainge called it. There have been whispers that he is too cocky, difficult to coach, selfish and too sensitive, whispers that were also heard when he was at Kentucky.

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