Brad Stevens said on Monday that the Boston Celtics are leaving open the possibility of giving Rajon Rondo an opportunity to get into basketball shape and continue his rehabilitation in the NBA D-League.

Rondo has not played since Jan. 25 after suffering a torn ACL and is expected to return this season.

"I would make that a decision on him and our staff," Stevens said. "That is something that has been discussed, probably some positives and negatives to that, but at the end of the day, it is an option as part of his rehabilitation."

The Maine Red Claws are the Celtics' D-League affiliate.

Rondo likely wouldn't return to the Celtics during their five-game West Coast road trip beginning on Jan. 5, but Stevens said he could spent time with Maine practicing and playing in D-League games before coming back to the NBA.

The New York Knicks are interested in acquiring Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics.

The Knicks hope that Rondo will eventually try to force a trade to the Knicks in a way that was similar to Carmelo Anthony in 2011, according to sources.

The Celtics have consistently denied wanting to trade Rondo, but he will have just one guaranteed season remaining on his contract after the deadline.

The Knicks fully expect to re-sign Anthony in the offseason and at the very least have enough cap space in 2015 to sign a max player.

"They're one confident bunch," a league executive said this week. "To listen to them, they expect to have Carmelo re-signed and have another star with him in another year. They're so sure about it you'd think they already know what will happen."

Rajon Rondo was asked on Sunday about whether a return in January is realistic for him as he comes back from a torn ACL.

"No," Rondo said. "I've had one practice and a pickup game. My endurance is key for me."

Rondo made it clear that he wants to be in complete physical shape when he returns to the Boston Celtics.

"I’m just listening to my body," Rondo said. "If my body told me I was 100 percent, I’d be playing now.”

The Boston Celtics are making progress on a trade with the Houston Rockets for Omer Asik.

The Rockets would acquire Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a first round pick from the Celtics.

Lee, Bass and Dwight Howard played together with the Orlando Magic.

The Celtics and Rockets are not discussing any three-team scenarios.

The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers are pursuing Omer Asik in trade scenarios with the Houston Rockets.

There is also one more interested team in the mix for Asik.

"A wildcard," one source said.

Asik is averaging 4.4 points and 6.8 rebounds this season and has held a trade request for most of the season.

The Rockets seek a power forward in the deal with Paul Millsap, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Bass, Jeff Green and Anderson Varejao as candidates.

Contrary to speculation and rumors, the Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings have not held trade talks on Rajon Rondo.

Sources from both sides confirmed to Sam Amick that no discussions have been held.

The Latino Post reported that the Kings were moving closer to sending Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, Marcus Thornton, Jason Thompson and picks to the Celtics in a deal for Rondo.

The Boston Celtics are being mentioned as a possible trade partner with the Houston Rockets for Omer Asik.

The Celtics have two power forwards that would fit next to Dwight Howard in Jeff Green and Brandon Bass, while they also possess a plethora of first round picks.

Daryl Morey worked with Danny Ainge in the Celtics' front office before he became general manager of the Rockets.

Rajon Rondo believes he has a long career still ahead of him, but the Boston Celtics' star is already preparing himself to become an NBA head coach in the future.

“I have a long way to go,” Rondo said. “And obviously I want to play for another 10 or 11 years. But it is something that’s in the back in my mind. And it starts now. I think the process is starting now.

“I think it just comes natural, with me being so vocal on the court, knowing everything out there on the court — what’s going on, play-calling, guys who have it, guys who don’t have it."

Rondo said he watched Doc Rivers closely when Rivers coached him on the Celtics. Now, Rondo is paying close attention to Brad Stevens.

“I watched Doc [Rivers] for seven years,” Rondo said. “I watched how he handled certain players, how he handled certain situations, how you handle a four-game losing streak, how you handle a 10-game winning streak.”

Rajon Rondo has received full medical clearance from the doctor in his recovery from a torn ACL.

Brad Stevens does not expect Rondo to return this month.

Rondo has made steady progress in his rehabilitation.

Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics won the 2008 title together and very nearly won again in 2010.

The Celtics were unable to fully defend their championship in 2009 due to an injury to Kevin Garnett. Garnett remained an effective player, but clearly limited after his initial season with the Celtics.

"I swear if Kevin would've been healthy, we would've won two or three in a row," said Rivers on Wednesday ahead of his return to Boston.

"I wish it could have ended better," said Rivers.