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BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics rebuilding project suffered a major setback when four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo underwent surgery Friday for a broken left finger.
The Celtics said the point guard is expected to miss six to eight weeks after breaking his finger in a fall at his home Thursday night. The team gave no further details.
Avery Bradley, a four-year veteran who signed a four-year contract in July to stay with the Celtics, is expected to fill in at point guard.
Bradley played that role last season during Rondo's 40-game absence following major knee surgery in the offseason. The Celtics also have second-year guard Phil Pressey and draft choice Marcus Smart. In 30 games last season, Rondo averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 33.3 minutes.
Rondo had been the subject of trade speculation for several years. That continued after the Celtics finished with the third worst record in club history, 25-57, last season under first-year head coach Brad Stevens.
Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, has said he has no intention of trading Rondo but indicated the eight-year veteran can become a free agent after the coming season. Ainge also has said no one is untradeable.
Rondo's surgery came one day after the Celtics continued tinkering with their roster by making a trade that sent guard Keith Bogans and two future Sacramento second-round draft picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forwards Dwight Powell, Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas, guard John Lucas III, 2016 and 2017 second-round picks and a trade exception.
The Celtics also waived guard Chris Babb and guard-forward Chris Johnson.
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