Eager. That's how Boston Celtics fans have felt since the Big Three broke up after the 2011-2012 season. Now, with the last remaining piece from the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics having been shipped out of Boston, a clouded future looms in a city where championships are valued above all else.

Apparently Danny Ainge didn't want to wait any longer to dump Rajon Rondo and officially start the rebuilding process from scratch. After repeatedly denying any attempt to trade his All-Star point guard, Ainge sent Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks are clearly the beneficiaries of the trade, getting a versatile point guard in exchange for Jameer Nelson, Jae Crowder, and Brandan Wright, along with two future draft picks. They acquired a valuable piece that fulfills their starting lineup and allows them to match up well against other Western Conference powers. If Rondo can find cohesiveness with Monta Ellis, the Mavericks will find the ability to make a deep run into the playoffs.

A free agent to-be, Rondo expressed prior to the season that he would explore the market when his contract expired in the summer of 2015. And while Danny Ainge mulled the idea of trading Rondo, a deal with the Mavericks was struck very quickly. Not only did Ainge completely change his mind, he did not appear to seek maximum return. Rondo currently leads the NBA in assists and has done so with the likes of Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, and Jeff Green. A talented point guard that has been criticized for lacking the ability to score, Rondo was set to be a hot commodity in the free agent market.

So while it was a smart move for the Celtics to deal Rondo and get something rather than nothing in return, this deal felt rushed and unforgiving. Two undeveloped players and a point guard who is unquestionably a downgrade from Rondo, it was clear that the goal of this trade was to get draft picks and future bargaining chips. Brandan Wright leads the league in field goal percentage but has averaged just 7.2 points per game in his six-year career. Without a dominant scorer to feed, Jameer Nelson may take a back seat to the development of rookie point guard Marcus Smart. A rebuilding Celtics team that is struggling to find an identity will now be presented with the idea of tanking for the second straight season. And second-year head coach Brad Stevens will do so without his close companion and seasoned veteran in Rondo.

The Celtics roster is laden with mediocre and undeveloped talents. Players such as Evan Turner, Brandon Bass and Gerald Wallace, coupled with a plethora of draft picks gives Danny Ainge plenty of bargaining chips in his back pocket. Back in 2007, Ainge used Al Jefferson and Gerald Green along with several other players and draft picks to land Kevin Garnett. The Celtics also moved Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak as well as picks to acquire Ray Allen. And it should be noted that several losing seasons were endured before the Celtics were able to make deals for Garnett and Allen. The current Celtics roster does not have as much firepower, but they have enough to formulate an appetizing deal for a proven All-Star.

So while the Mavericks have moved into serious contention in the Western Conference with arguably one of the strongest starting lineups in the NBA, patience is at the forefront of the Celtics next moves. For now, Celtics fans can only hope that the organization did not ruin their chances to re-sign their beloved pesky point guard, as the Red Sox had done with Jon Lester months earlier.