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(AP photo)

This postseason has featured just about everything.

Damian Lillard hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close out a series. Zach Randolph got suspended for a Game 7 after a punch that might not have been a punch. A racist owner received a lifetime ban for remarks demeaning minorities, declined to apologize, and reportedly has cancer. Kevin Durant was called Mr. Unreliable. The Washington Wizards won a playoff series. Roy Hibbert allowed a scarecrow to play in his place, Vince Carter's still quite good at basketball, and DeJuan Blair (!) just sandwiched two double-doubles around a one-game suspension, against the NBA's best team. We will see five Game 7s -- matching the record for an entire postseason -- in the first round.

And now, finally, we have a Rajon Rondo trade rumor. Oy.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, "it's inevitable" that the Houston Rockets will call "just to make sure Rajon Rondo isn't suddenly available." After a first-round exit, the Rockets will be looking to upgrade their roster.

The two teams reportedly spoke -- or didn't -- about a potential deal before the trade deadline, but talks (if they happened) never progressed.

Stein reported in February that the Rockets wanted to acquire Rondo, but the Celtics asked for more than Houston was willing to surrender. "One main stumbling block," per Stein, was Boston's desire to include Chandler Parsons in a potential deal. The Rockets were not willing to let go of the small forward, who averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists this season while making less than $1 million. With his contract potentially in six figures again next year, he currently qualifies as one of the league's very best values. But he will be due for a big raise either this summer or after the 2014-15 campaign. The Rockets have a difficult decision on whether to pick up his team option.

Because of Parsons' contract, a straight-up trade of him and Rondo (plus picks for the Celtics) doesn't come close to working. The Rockets also have Omer Asik ($8.4 million) and Jeremy Lin (same price) as talented, potential fillers for the deal, plus intriguing young guys in Patrick Beverley and Terrence Jones.

Any Rondo-to-Houston scenario sounds unlikely, but teams will be calling about the four-time All-Star. The Celtics have repeatedly stated a desire to keep their lone star and build around him, a stance that makes sense. Rondo should theoretically be entering the prime of his career. Moving him -- even for a gaggle of young talent and draft picks -- would likely set back the rebuilding process.

But Rondo plans to test free agency after the upcoming season and letting him walk for nothing would be a major blow. Danny Ainge apparently gauged the market at the February trade deadline -- while asking for a king's ransom -- and he should do so again this summer even if Plan A involves keeping the point guard long term.