Since you're so against using Rondo in any capacity, why not entertain the idea of using him as trade bait for some new pieces already in the league? Trading away your best player that will still be under contract for the possibility of some good draft picks is too risky of an idea. You may be comfortable with it, but I'm sure any FO in their right mind wouldn't be. If you're going to trade the player you have built your team around (whether you believe he deserves it or not), they want to see some value coming back right away, not in five years. You may be 'realistic,' but you're not being smart in a team management sense. No one wants to be terrible and out of contention for years on one giant maybe of a signing.