The Boston Celtics were in contact with the agent for starting point guard Rajon Rondo on Monday evening, according to a league source.
The meeting between the Celtics and Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, came after two weeks of relatively amiable discussions about the parameters of a new deal for Rondo.
Rondo and Duffy are seeking a maximum or near-max contract that would pay him between $80 and $85 million, but Boston appears unwilling to approach that figure.
If a deal can't be reached by October 31st, Rondo would become a restricted free agent next summer.