Celts exercise Rondo option; Boston has PG through 2009.

COLUMN: NOTES

The Boston Celtics have exercised their contract option on starting point guard Rajon Rondo for the 2008-09 season.

The team is counting on the second-year pro to play that position in a lineup with stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Last season, the 6-foot-1 Rondo started 25 of the 78 games he played and averaged 6.4 points and 3.8 assists.

He entered the 2005 draft after two seasons at Kentucky. The Celtics acquired him in a trade on the night of the draft with the Phoenix Suns in which they also picked up forward Brian Grant for a first-round pick in 2006.